Abstract
Maintaining normal functions of ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) is essential for oocyte development and maturation. The dysfunction of GCs impairs nutrition supply and estrogen secretion by follicles, thus negatively affecting the breeding capacity of farm animals. Impaired GCs is generally associated with declines in Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) levels, which triggers un-controlled oxidative stress, and the oxidative stress, thus, attack the subcellular structures and cause cell damage. β-nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), a NAD+ precursor, has demonstrated well-known antioxidant properties in several studies. In this study, using two types of ovarian GCs (mouse GCs (mGCs) and human granulosa cell line (KGN)) as cell models, we aimed to investigate the potential effects of NMN on gene expression patterns and antioxidant capacity of both mGCs and KGN that were exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). As shown in results of the study, mGCs that were exposed to H2O2 significantly altered the gene expression patterns, with 428 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) when compared with those of the control group. Furthermore, adding NMN to H2O2-cultured mGCs displayed 621 DEGs. The functional enrichment analysis revealed that DEGs were mainly enriched in key pathways like cell cycle, senescence, and cell death. Using RT-qPCR, CCK8, and β-galactosidase staining, we found that H2O2 exposure on mGCs obviously reduced cell activity/mRNA expressions of antioxidant genes, inhibited cell proliferation, and induced cellular senescence. Notably, NMN supplementation partially prevented these H2O2-induced abnormalities. Moreover, these similar beneficial effects of NMN on antioxidant capacity were confirmed in the KGN cell models that were exposed to H2O2. Taken together, the present results demonstrate that NMN supplementation protects against H2O2-induced impairments in gene expression pattern, cell cycle arrest, and cell death in ovarian GCs through boosting NAD+ levels and provide potential strategies to ameliorate uncontrolled oxidative stress in ovarian GCs.