| Summary: | Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is an intra-ovarian growth factor that plays important endocrine or paracrine roles during ovarian development. IGF-1 affects ovarian function and female fertility through reducing apoptosis of granulosa cells, yet the underlying mechanism remains poorly characterized. Here, we aimed to address these knowledge gaps using porcine primary granulosa cells and examining the anti-apoptotic mechanisms of IGF-1. IGF-1 prevented the granulosa cell from apoptosis, as shown by TUNEL and Annexin V/PI detection, and gained the anti-apoptotic index, the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax. This process was partly mediated by reducing the pro-apoptotic Bim<sub>EL</sub> (Bcl-2 Interacting Mediator of Cell Death-Extra Long) protein level. Western blotting showed that IGF-1 promoted Bim<sub>EL</sub> phosphorylation through activating p-ERK1/2, and that the proteasome system was responsible for degradation of phosphorylated Bim<sub>EL</sub>. Meanwhile, IGF-1 enhanced the Beclin1 level and the rate of LC3 II/LC3 I, indicating that autophagy was induced by IGF-1. By blocking the proteolysis processes of both proteasome and autophagy flux with MG132 and chloroquine, respectively, the Bim<sub>EL</sub> did not reduce and the phosphorylated Bim<sub>EL</sub> protein accumulated, thereby indicating that both proteasome and autophagy pathways were involved in the degradation of Bim<sub>EL</sub> stimulated by IGF-1. In conclusion, IGF-1 inhibited porcine primary granulosa cell apoptosis via degradation of pro-apoptotic Bim<sub>EL</sub>. This study is critical for us to further understand the mechanisms of follicular survival and atresia regulated by IGF-1. Moreover, it provides a direction for the treatment of infertility caused by ovarian dysplasia, such as polycystic ovary syndrome and the improvement of assisted reproductive technology.
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