Whole ovaries RNA sequencing; WT and ghrelin o-acyltransferase (GOAT) knockout mice

Ghrelin, an orexigenic gut-derived peptide, is gaining increasing attention due to its multifaceted role in a number of physiological functions, including metabolism, cardiovascular health, stress and reproduction. Ghrelin exists in circulation primarily as des-acylated and acylated ghrelin. Des-acyl ghrelin, until recently considered to be an inactive form ghrelin, is now known to have independent physiological functionality. However, the relative contribution of acyl and des-acyl ghrelin to reproductive development and function is currently unknown. Here we used ghrelin-O-acyltransferase (GOAT) knockout (KO) mice that have no measurable levels of endogenous acyl ghrelin and chronically high levels of des-acyl ghrelin, to characterise how the developmental and life-long absence of acyl ghrelin affects ovarian development and reproductive capacity. We have combined ovarian transcriptome analysis using RNA sequencing with measures of ovarian morphometry, as well as with the assessment of markers of reproductive maturity and the capacity to breed. Our data show pronounced specific changes in the ovarian transcriptome in the juvenile GOAT KO ovary, indicative of advanced ovarian development. These changes corresponded with diminished ovarian reserve in the juvenile and adult ovaries of these mice, due to a continuous reduction in the number of small follicle populations. These changes did not affect the timing of puberty onset or reproductive capacity under optimal conditions. These data suggest that an absence of acyl ghrelin does not prevent reproductive success but that appropriate levels of acyl and des-acyl ghrelin may be necessary for optimal ovarian maturation. Overall design: 4 WT and 4 GOAT KO ovaries were used for this analysis

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Sominsky L, Goularte JF, Andrews ZB, Spencer SJ