Original Research ArticleProstaglandin E2 stimulates the expression of cumulus expansion-related genes in pigs: the role of protein kinase B

•PGE2 stimulates meiotic maturation of porcine oocytes.•PGE2 induces mild cumulus expansion.•PGE2 induces expresssion of cumulus expansion-related genes in porcine COCs.•PGE2 activates PKB and MAPK3/1 in COCs.•PKB activity is essential for HAS2 and TNFAIP6 expression induced by PGE2.

The production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) seems to play an important role in the ovulation process. PGE2 was found to induce cumulus expansion and meiosis resumption in mice, but little is known about its role in pigs. The goals of this study were (a) to assess the effect of PGE2 on the expression levels of cumulus expansion-related genes, (b) to define the signaling pathways that drive the PGE2-stimulated expression of cumulus expansion-related genes, (c) to measure the effect of PGE2 on the activation of key signaling molecules (MAPK3/1, PKB) and on hyaluronan production in cumulus cells, and (d) to assess the effect of PGE2 on meiosis resumption. We documented that PGE2 is able to induce the expression of cumulus expansion-related genes (HAS2, TNFAIP6) as well as genes involved in steroidogenesis (CYP11A1) or prostaglandin production (PTGS2). PGE2 is able to activate PKB and MAPK3/1 and induce mild cumulus expansion and meiosis resumption, but less efficiently than FSH.