Abstract
Unfavorable conditions compromise animal reproduction by altering the ovarian granulosa cells' follicular dynamics and normal physiological function (GCs), eventually resulting in oxidative damage and cell apoptosis. Activin is produced in the GCs and plays a vital role in folliculogenesis. This study investigated the effects of activin A (ACT-A) treatment in vitro on the apoptosis of porcine GCs and the underlying molecular mechanism. We found that ACT-A could attenuate the apoptosis of the GCs and enhance the synthesis of estrogen (E2). ACT-A also enhanced FSH-induced estrogen receptor-β (ERβ) expression, inhibiting ERβ aggravated intracellular accumulation of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis. The E2 levels in the culture medium, the mRNA expression pattern of the apoptosis-related genes (CASPASE 3, BCL2, and BAX), steroidogenesis-related gene (CYP19A1), and cell viability were analyzed to confirm the results. In summary, this study indicated the protective role of ACT-A in apoptosis by attenuating the ROS accumulation through ERβ. These results aim to enhance the follicular functions and improve animal reproductive performance.