Cell-specific expression and immunolocalization of nitric oxide synthase isoforms and soluble guanylyl cyclase α1 and β1 subunits in the ovary of fetal, neonatal and immature pigs.

The present study is designed to investigate the cellular expression and immunolocalization of three different nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms and soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) subunits in the porcine ovary. Our results showed that in the fetal and neonatal pigs, all three isoforms of NOS were mainly localized in the oocyte and showed the expression of gradual increase in the granulosa cell and theca cell with the growing follicle. In addition, subunits of the sGC, sGC α1 and β1 were mainly expressed in the granulosa cell in precious studies. The bioactivity of total NOS, eNOS, iNOS and nNOS was detected in the ovary and were higher at prenatal stages compared to postnatal stages. However, the activities of nNOS were no different between prenatal stages and postnatal stages. Taken together, our findings suggested that the NOS/sGC pathway may be involved in the follicular formation and development in the porcine ovary.