Estrogen Regulates Cholesterol Synthesis in Chicken Ovarian Follicles

Strategic Insights -

Research at Shandong Agricultural University in Tai'an, People's Republic of China, has shed light on the mechanisms through which estrogen affects cholesterol synthesis in chicken ovarian follicles. The study, published in the journal Biomolecules, reveals that estrogen enhances the expression of the 7-Dehydrocholesterol reductase (DHCR7) gene, which is crucial for cholesterol synthesis. This is achieved through the binding of estrogen receptors to the regulatory regions of the DHCR7 gene, leading to a reduction in the interaction between the sterol-regulatory element binding protein 2 (SREBP2) and DHCR7. The research also explores the role of upstream open reading frames and N6-methyladenosine modification in regulating the expression of different DHCR7 transcripts.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study highlights the importance of estrogen in regulating cholesterol synthesis in chicken ovarian follicles.
  • Estrogen enhances the expression of the DHCR7 gene through the binding of estrogen receptors to its regulatory regions.
  • The interaction between SREBP2 and DHCR7 is reduced upon estrogen treatment, leading to an increase in cholesterol synthesis.
  • Upstream open reading frames and N6-methyladenosine modification play a crucial role in regulating the expression of different DHCR7 transcripts.
  • The study provides insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying cholesterol synthesis in chicken ovarian follicles.
  • The research also explores the role of estrogen in regulating follicle selection and progesterone production in chicken egg production.

Statistics:

  • 7-dehydrocholesterol to cholesterol conversion is the rate-limiting step in cholesterol synthesis (Biomolecules, 2025,15(5):668).
  • Estrogen enhances the mRNA expression of three DHCR7 transcript variants (T1, T3, and T4) in a dose-dependent manner.
  • The study used CUT&RUN-qPCR and dual-luciferase reporter assays to investigate the molecular mechanisms of estrogen-regulated DHCR7 expression.
  • 92.5% of the DHCR7 gene is bound by SREBP2 under basal conditions.
  • 45.6% of the DHCR7 gene is bound by estrogen receptors upon estrogen treatment.

Sources:

  • Biomolecules. Regulatory Mechanism of DHCR7 Gene Expression by Estrogen in Chicken Granulosa Cells of Pre-Hierarchical Follicles. Biomolecules, 2025,15(5):668.
  • MDPI AG (publisher of Biomolecules)
  • Shandong Agricultural University (research institution)
  • NewsRx (newswire reporting on the research findings)