Cell-specific expression of aromatase and LH receptor mRNAs in rat ovary

1992 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 309-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.F. Whitelaw ◽  
C.D. Smyth ◽  
C.M. Howles ◽  
S.G. Hillier
Keyword(s):  
Cytochrome P450 ◽  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Direct Evidence ◽  
Specific Expression ◽  
Lh Receptor ◽  
Paracrine Regulation ◽  
Receptor Mrna ◽  
Rat Ovary ◽  
Per Se ◽  
Receptor Mrnas

ABSTRACT Current understanding of the endocrine and paracrine regulation of follicular oestrogen synthesis predicts that aromatase cytochrome P450 (P450arom) mRNA is inducible by FSH in granulosa cells. LH receptor mRNA is constitutively expressed in thecal/interstital cells, and is also thought to be induced in granulosa cells in response to joint stimulation by FSH and oestrogen. This study provides direct evidence that FSH induces the ovarian P450arom gene selectively, perhaps exclusively, in the granulosa cells of Graafian follicles. FSH-induction of LH receptor mRNA occurs simultaneously but is independent of oestrogen synthesis per se.

scholarly journals Inhibitory effect of retinoic acid on the development of immature porcine granulosa cells to mature cells

2000 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Hattori ◽  
K Takesue ◽  
N Nishida ◽  
Y Kato ◽  
N Fujihara
Keyword(s):  
Retinoic Acid ◽  
Cell Differentiation ◽  
Granulosa Cell ◽  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Immature Stage ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Lh Receptor ◽  
Receptor Mrna ◽  
Immature Cells

The present study investigated the effect of retinoic acid (RA) on the differentiation of granulosa cells prepared from porcine ovaries. The granulosa cells were precultured for 15 h, then cultured for 48 h with FSH and further treated for 24 h with LH in order to induce their transformation into luteal cells. After the cells had been exposed to 1 microM retinoids (RA, retinal and retinol) for 87 h, analysis of the LH receptor mRNA expression, an indicator of granulosa cell differentiation, was carried out by using semiquantitative RT-PCR. The results showed that there was a decrease in LH receptor mRNA levels, and that RA had a more potent effect on these levels than the other two retinoids. When cells were exposed to RA in the immature stage (before the addition of FSH) or the early stage of development (0-24 h after the addition of FSH), expression of LH receptor mRNA was greatly diminished. When the immature cells were cultured for 15 h with RA, then washed and cultured for 48 h with FSH and for 24 h with LH, the expression of LH receptor mRNA was not reversed. In the differentiated cells (24 h after the addition of FSH), however, RA no longer had any inhibitory effect. When the immature cells were exposed to RA, FSH-induced expression of c-fos mRNA was markedly decreased. In contrast, expression of c-jun and activating transcription factor-4 mRNAs remained constant. However, the expression of c-fos mRNA was not decreased by forskolin. The results indicate that RA is a potent inhibitor in the immature stage of porcine granulosa cell differentiation, probably through decreased expression of FSH receptor, but that RA does not inhibit differentiation in the mature stage of the cells.

scholarly journals Analysis of Ovarian Gene Expression in Follicle-Stimulating Hormone β Knockout Mice*

Endocrinology ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 142 (7) ◽  
pp. 2742-2751 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen H. Burns ◽  
Changning Yan ◽  
T. Rajendra Kumar ◽  
Martin M. Matzuk
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Granulosa Cell ◽  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Knockout Mice ◽  
Marker Genes ◽  
Cyclin D2 ◽  
Glycoprotein Hormone ◽  
Lh Receptor ◽  
Receptor Mrna ◽  
Deficient Mice

Abstract FSH is a heterodimeric glycoprotein hormone that is produced in the gonadotroph cells of the anterior pituitary. It acts on Sertoli cells of the testis and granulosa cells of the ovary. We previously demonstrated that FSHβ knockout female mice are infertile due to a block in folliculogenesis preceding antral stage development. To investigate aberrations of ovarian gene regulation in the absence of FSH, we analyzed the expression of several important marker genes using Northern blot and in situ hybridization techniques. Key findings are as follows: 1) Follicles of FSHβ knockout mice develop a well organized thecal layer, which is positive for P450 17α-hydroxylase and LH receptor messenger RNAs (mRNAs). This indicates that theca recruitment is completed autonomously with respect to FSH. 2) Granulosa cells in FSH-deficient mice demonstrate an increase in FSH receptor mRNA, and decreases in P450 aromatase, serum/glucocorticoid-induced kinase, and inhibin/activin subunit mRNAs. These data support studies that implicate FSH signaling cascades in the expression of these genes. 3) In contrast to the thecal layer, granulosa cell populations in FSHβ knockout mice do not accumulate LH receptor mRNA. This suggests that although the granulosa cells have a block in proliferation at the antral follicle stage in the absence of FSH, they do not initiate programs of terminal differentiation as seen in luteinizing cells of wild-type ovaries. 4) Ovaries of FSH-deficient mice demonstrate a modest decrease in cyclin D2 mRNA, without up-regulation of cell cycle inhibitor mRNAs associated with luteinization (i.e. p15, p27, and p21). Although components of the FSH null phenotype may be caused by partial cyclin D2 loss of function, these findings indicate that the mechanisms of granulosa cell cycle arrest in FSHβ knockout mice are distinct from those of cycle withdrawal at luteinization. Underscoring the usefulness of the FSH-deficient mouse model, this study clarifies aspects of gonadotropin-dependent folliculogenesis, thecal layer development, cycle control in granulosa cells, and luteinization.

scholarly journals Regulation of expression of ovarian mRNA encoding steroidogenic enzymes and gonadotrophin receptors by FSH and GH in hypogonadotrophic cattle

Reproduction ◽  
2002 ◽  
pp. 651-661 ◽  
Author(s):  
HA Garverick ◽  
G Baxter ◽  
J Gong ◽  
DG Armstrong ◽  
BK Campbell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cytochrome P450 ◽  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Gnrh Agonist ◽  
Follicular Growth ◽  
Steroidogenic Enzymes ◽  
Lh Receptor ◽  
Theca Cells ◽  
Follicular Wave ◽  
Follicle Size ◽  
Bovine Somatotrophin

A study was conducted to determine the effects of FSH and bovine somatotrophin on the expression of mRNA encoding the gonadotrophin receptors and steroidogenic enzymes in ovarian follicles of cattle rendered hypogonadotrophic by treatment with a GnRH agonist. Hereford x Friesian heifers were allotted into two pretreatment groups: controls (n = 10) and GnRH agonist-treated (n = 20). Ovaries of control cows were removed on day 2 of the first follicular wave after synchronized oestrus. GnRH agonist-treated heifers were given either FSH or no FSH. FSH was infused at 50 microg h(-1) for 48 h. Ovaries in GnRH agonist-treated heifers were removed at the end of exogenous hormone treatment. The control, GnRH agonist and GnRH agonist plus FSH treatment groups were divided further into bovine somatotrophin or no bovine somatotrophin treatments (n = 5 per treatment). Bovine somatotrophin (25 mg day(-1) by s.c. injection) was administered for 3 days. Ovaries were scanned once a day by ultrasonography. Blood samples for hormone measurements were collected three times a day from oestrus until the time of removal of ovaries. Expression of mRNAs for the FSH and LH receptors and cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage (P450scc), cytochrome P450 17alpha-hydroxylase (P450c17) and cytochrome P450 aromatase (P450arom) enzymes was localized by in situ hybridization and quantified by image analysis. Ovarian follicular growth was arrested at < or = 4.5 mm in diameter in GnRH agonist-treated heifers. There was no effect of bovine somatotrophin on follicular dynamics, gonadotrophin secretion or expression of mRNA for either the gonadotrophin receptors or steroidogenic enzymes. Infusion of FSH to GnRH agonist-treated heifers increased FSH concentrations in serum to the physiological concentrations observed in controls and stimulated growth of follicles to a size similar (5.5-8.0 mm in diameter) to recruited follicles in control cows. FSH induced mRNA expression of P450scc and P450arom in granulosa cells of follicles at a smaller size (< or = 4.5 mm in diameter) than in controls and increased (P < 0.001) expression in larger (> 4.5 mm in diameter) follicles. Expression of mRNAs for P450scc and P450c17 increased (P < 0.001) with increasing follicle size and was higher (P < 0.01) in theca cells of GnRH agonist plus FSH-treated heifers than in the other groups. There were no treatment differences in expression of FSH receptor in granulosa cells or LH receptor in theca cells, but expression of both receptors increased with follicle size. There was no expression of LH receptor in the granulosa cells of cows from any treatment group. In conclusion, FSH treatment in GnRH agonist-treated heifers induced similar changes in follicular growth to those observed during the first follicular wave, but despite similar peak concentrations, prolonged exposure to high FSH induced precocious expression of mRNAs for P450scc and P450arom in granulosa cells from small follicles and markedly upregulated expression of these enzymes in granulosa cells from recruited follicles. The results of this study demonstrate the key role that FSH plays in the induction of follicular growth and differentiation.

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