Abstract
Background Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are emerging epigenetic regulators in reproductive biology, but specific functions of many ovarian circRNAs remain uncharacterized. This study investigates the functional significance of circRNA ciR-01114, previously identified in porcine ovarian tissue, in modulating ovarian cell functions. Methods and results To evaluate the impact of ciR-01114 on the regulation of basic porcine ovarian granulosa cell functions, we performed experiments to increase (using an overexpressing vector) and decrease (using a shRNA vector) the expression of this circRNA. We assessed the relative expression levels of ciR-01114, cell viability, proliferation (measured by the accumulation of PCNA and cyclin B1), cytoplasmic (assessed via the accumulation of bax and caspase-3), and nuclear (DNA fragmentation) apoptosis, and the release of progesterone, testosterone, estradiol, IGF-I, and oxytocin. The overexpression of ciR-01114 significantly enhanced cell viability, proliferation, and the release of progesterone, testosterone, estradiol, and oxytocin, while suppressing apoptosis. Conversely, ciR-01114 knockdown yielded opposing effects. Conclusions These preliminary findings suggest that ciR-01114 may regulate porcine ovarian cell functions, including cell cycle progression, apoptosis, and secretory activity. However, further validation and in-depth studies are necessary to confirm these observations and fully understand the mechanisms underlying ciR-01114’s role in ovarian biology.