Wingless-type mouse mammary tumor virus integration site (WNT) regulation of bovine theca cells

Ovarian paracrine mediation by components of the wingless-type mouse mammary tumor virus integration site ligands (WNT1 to 11) and their receptors, Frizzled family members (FZD1 to 10), has been proposed. Secreted truncated forms of FZD proteins (e.g., SFRP4) block the action of WNT ligands. Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) is another WNT antagonist, and R-spondin-1 (RSPO1) is one of a group of four secreted proteins that enhance WNT/β-catenin signaling. Our hypothesis was that granulosa cells signal theca cells (TC) via SFRP4, DKK1, RSPO1 and WNT secretion to regulate TC differentiation and proliferation. Therefore, in vitro experiments were conducted to study the effects of WNT family member 3A (WNT3A), WNT5A, RSPO1, DKK1, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7), Indian hedgehog (IHH), and fibroblast growth factor-9 (FGF9) on bovine TC proliferation and steroidogenesis. Theca cells of large (8 to 20 mm) and small (3 to 6 mm) follicles were collected from bovine ovaries, TC monolayers were established in vitro, and treated with various doses of recombinant human WNT3A, WNT5A, RSPO1, DKK1, IGF1, FGF9, BMP7, IHH and/or ovine LH in serum-free medium for 48 h. In experiment 1 using LH-treated TC, IGF1, IHH and WNT3A increased (P < 0.05) cell numbers and androstenedione production, whereas WNT3A and BMP7 inhibited (P < 0.05) progesterone production. In experiment 2, FGF9 blocked (P < 0.05) the WNT3A-induced increase in androstenedione production in LH plus IGF1-treated TC. In experiment 3, RSPO1 further increased (P < 0.05) LH plus IGF1-induced progesterone and androstenedione production. In experiment 4, SFRP4 and DKK1 alone had no significant effect on TC proliferation or progesterone production of large-follicle TC, but both blocked the inhibitory effect of WNT5A on androstenedione production. In contrast, DKK1 alone inhibited (P < 0.05) small-follicle TC androstenedione production whereas SFRP4 was without effect. We conclude that the ovarian TC WNT system is functional in cattle, with WNT3A increasing proliferation and androstenedione production of TC.