Effects of silencing INHα gene by RNAi on the mRNA expressions of StAR, FST, INHβB, and FSHR genes in cultured sheep granulosa cells

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of silencing the inhibin α-subunit (INHα) gene by RNAi on the mRNA levels of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), follistatin (FST), inhibin β-subunit (INHβB), and FSH receptor (FSHR) in cultured sheep granulosa cells (GCs). The antral follicles, 3–7 mm in diameter, were dissected from the ovaries of 15 Thin-tailed Han sheep (1-1.5 years old), and then GCs were isolated from antral follicles. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to analyze the mRNA levels of StAR, FST, INHβB, and FSHR in INHα-specific small RNA interference (siRNA) − treated GCs. Knockdown of INHα mRNA by siRNA decreased the mRNA expressions of StAR and FST by 76% and 23%, respectively (P < 0.05), and increased the mRNA expressions of FSHR and INHβB by 81% and 50% in cultured sheep GCs, respectively (P < 0.05). These results indicated that silencing INHα gene by RNAi influenced the mRNA expressions of StAR, FST, INHβB and FSHR in cultured sheep GCs.