Autophagy participates in germline cyst breakdown and follicular formation by modulating glycolysis switch via Akt signaling in newly-hatched chicken ovaries

In females, the establishment of the primordial follicle pool is accompanied by a remarkable programmed oocyte loss for unclear reasons. In this study, the role of Autophagy was investigated to serve as a protective mechanism for oocyte survival during chicken folliculogenesis. Inhibition of Autophagy by 3-methyladenine (3-MA) led to a remarkable delay in germ cell cyst breakdown that resulted in fewer primordial follicles and retarded sequent follicular development either in vivo or in the ovarian organ culture. Furthermore, the glycolysis level was downregulated in ovaries treated with 3-MA, while Recilisib (a specific activator of Akt) reversed this inhibiting effect of 3-MA on primordial folliculogenesis. Collectively, these data indicate that Autophagy functions to maintain germ cell cyst breakdown and primordial follicle assembly by regulating ovarian glycolysis involving Akt signaling in the ovaries of newly-hatched chickens.