Thymol Regulates the Expression of Antioxidant-Related Messenger RNAs and Improves Bovine Secondary Follicles Development and Antrum Formation In Vitro
4 affiliations
- 1Laboratory of Biotechnology and Physiology of Reproduction, Federal University of Ceara, Sobral 62041-040, CE, Brazil
- 2Laboratory of Research in Reproductive Physiology, Parnaíba Delta Federal University, Parnaíba 64202-020, PI, Brazil
- 3Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, State University of Acarau Valley, Sobral 62040-370, CE, Brazil
- 4Laboratory of Ultrastructure, CPqAM/FIOCRUZ, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife 50670-901, PE, Brazil
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of 1, 10, or 100 μg/mL thymol on bovine secondary follicles cultured in vitro for 18 days at 38.5 °C with 5% CO2. After culture, the following parameters were evaluated: (1) the follicular growth, antrum formation, viability, and ultrastructure, (2) the levels of malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione, and nitrite in the culture medium, and (3) mRNA levels of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxiredoxin 6 (PRDX6), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF-9). The results showed that 10 μg/mL thymol increased cell viability, antrum formation and follicular development. At day 18, nitrite levels were higher in medium of follicles cultured with 10 μg/mL thymol than those found in control medium alone or with 1 μg/mL thymol. Gene expression analysis revealed that 10 μg/mL thymol increased catalase and glutathione peroxidase 1 mRNA levels, while the expression of other transcripts was unaffected. Transmission electron microscopy showed that granulosa cells exhibited rounded nuclei, elongated mitochondria, and sparse cytoplasmic vacuoles in all treatments, except for those cultured in control medium that had signs of degeneration. In conclusion, 10 μg/mL thymol increased mRNA expression of catalase and glutathione peroxidase 1, stimulated antrum and preserved granulosa cells of bovine secondary follicles in vitro.
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BibTeX
@article{nascimento2026thymol,
title = {{Thymol Regulates the Expression of Antioxidant-Related Messenger RNAs and Improves Bovine Secondary Follicles Development and Antrum Formation In Vitro}},
author = {Danisvânia Ripardo do Nascimento and Pedro Alves Aguiar Barroso and Venância Nunes Azevedo and Ernando Igo Teixeira de Assis and Solano Dantas Martins and Valdevane Rocha Araújo and Geovany Amorim Gomes and Mariana Aragão Matos Donato and Christina Alves Peixoto and José Roberto Viana Silva},
journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/ijms27219451},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/21/9451},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Thymol Regulates the Expression of Antioxidant-Related Messenger RNAs and Improves Bovine Secondary Follicles Development and Antrum Formation In Vitro
AU - Danisvânia Ripardo do Nascimento
AU - Pedro Alves Aguiar Barroso
AU - Venância Nunes Azevedo
AU - Ernando Igo Teixeira de Assis
AU - Solano Dantas Martins
AU - Valdevane Rocha Araújo
AU - Geovany Amorim Gomes
AU - Mariana Aragão Matos Donato
AU - Christina Alves Peixoto
AU - José Roberto Viana Silva
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/23
JO - International Journal of Molecular Sciences
DO - 10.3390/ijms27219451
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/21/9451
AB - This study investigated the effects of 1, 10, or 100 μg/mL thymol on bovine secondary follicles cultured in vitro for 18 days at 38.5 °C with 5% CO2. After culture, the following parameters were evaluated: (1) the follicular growth, antrum formation, viability, and ultrastructure, (2) the levels of malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione, and nitrite in the culture medium, and (3) mRNA levels of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxiredoxin 6 (PRDX6), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF-9). The results showed that 10 μg/mL thymol increased cell viability, antrum formation and follicular development. At day 18, nitrite levels were higher in medium of follicles cultured with 10 μg/mL thymol than those found in control medium alone or with 1 μg/mL thymol. Gene expression analysis revealed that 10 μg/mL thymol increased catalase and glutathione peroxidase 1 mRNA levels, while the expression of other transcripts was unaffected. Transmission electron microscopy showed that granulosa cells exhibited rounded nuclei, elongated mitochondria, and sparse cytoplasmic vacuoles in all treatments, except for those cultured in control medium that had signs of degeneration. In conclusion, 10 μg/mL thymol increased mRNA expression of catalase and glutathione peroxidase 1, stimulated antrum and preserved granulosa cells of bovine secondary follicles in vitro.
SN - 1422-0067
ER -