大鼠卵巢绒毛膜促性腺激素受体在CHO中的表达和扩增

本文报道了利用二氢叶酸还原酶放大系统将大鼠ＬＨ／ｈＣＧ受体（记为Ｆ－ｈＣＧＲ）及其胞外肽段（记为Ｔ－ｈＣＧＲ）在中国苍鼠卵巢细胞（ＣＨＯ）中的表达。ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ分析表明,Ｆ－ｈＣＧＲ为一条蛋白质带,其表观分子量为９２ｋｄ,而Ｔ－ｈＣＧＲ为３５ｋｄ和３７ｋｄ两条带。表达受体对其配基ｈＣＧ表现出高的亲合力,Ｆ－ｈＣＧＲ的解离常数为７×１０－９ｍｏｌ／Ｌ,Ｔ－ｈＣＧＲ为６．４×１０－９ｍｏｌ／Ｌ。表达Ｆ－ｈＣＧＲ的转染ＣＨＯ细胞可结合１２５Ｉ－ｈＣＧ,而表达Ｔ－ｈＣＧＢ者不结合１２５Ｉ－ｈＣＧ。这提示Ｆ－ｈＣＧＲ主要存在于细胞质膜表面上。表达Ｆ－ｈＣＧＲ的转染ＣＨＯ细胞能刺激。ｃＡＭＰ的形成,而表达Ｔ－ｈＣＧＲ者不能刺激ｃＡＭＰ形成。免疫荧光定位结果表明,Ｔ－ｈＣＧＲ主要分布于质膜的细胞质侧以及胞内其他一些细胞器膜上。用免疫亲和层析可以得到纯化的Ｔ－ｈＣＧＲ。     

γ—氨基丁酸（GABA）对离体大鼠卵巢颗粒细胞孕酮分泌的影响

本文观察了ＧＡＢＡ对大鼠分散颗粒细胞生孕酮的影响。结果表明：当ＧＡＢＡ浓度为１０＾－＾６ｍｏｌ／Ｌ时明显促进颗粒细胞基础孕酮分泌（Ｐ＜０．０５）。但更高浓度（１０＾－＾５ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）时则表现抑制ＨＣＧ刺激孕酮生成的效应（Ｐ＜０．０２）。提示颗粒细胞的激素分泌功能可能受到ＧＡＢＡ的调控。     

乙酰胆碱对大鼠体外抗体生成的影响

目的：观察不同浓度乙酰胆碱（ＡＣｈ,１０－１０～１０－５ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）对大鼠体外抗体生成的影响,并初步探讨其作用机制,从细胞水平了解乙酰胆碱与免疫功能之间的关系。方法：用体外抗体生成的检测方法,用绵羊红细胞（ＳＲＢＣ）刺激大鼠肠系膜淋巴结Ｂ细胞转化成抗体形成细胞（ＡＦＣ）,然后检测其抗体生成量。结果：①１０－１０～１０－７ｍｏｌ／ＬＡＣｈ能显著抑制体外抗体生成,其中１０－８和１０－７ｍｏｌ／ＬＡＣｈ的作用较强,而１０－６和１０－５ｍｏｌ／ＬＡＣｈ无明显的抑制作用;②Ｍ型胆碱能受体激动剂毛果芸香碱（１０－８和１０－７ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）能明显减弱体外抗体生成,而Ｎ型受体激动剂烟碱（１０－８和１０－７ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）没有显著的减弱作用,Ｍ型受体拮抗剂阿托品（１０－７和１０－６ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）可完全阻断ＡＣｈ抑制体外抗体生成的作用;③ＡＣｈ分别在Ｂ细胞用ＳＲＢＣ刺激后３～４８ｈ中的６个不同时间与淋巴细胞作用,其抗体生成仍然是减少的。结论：ＡＣｈ可非浓度依赖性地抑制大鼠的体外抗体生成;此作用可能由Ｂ细胞上的Ｍ型胆碱能受体介导;且ＡＣｈ可能主要影响Ｂ细胞转化的后期过程。     

人脑及红细胞膜乙酰胆碱酯酶的芳基酰胺酶活性

采用联合亲和层析法从人小脑及红细胞膜中纯化了ＡＣｈＥ,纯化的人脑及红细胞ＡＣｈＥ在ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ上呈一主带,分子量约为６６０００。人脑ＡＣｈＥ制备酯酶与酰胺酶比活性分别为１２９９与１４３Ｕ／ｍｇ,人红细胞ＡＣｈＥ制备分别为４５８４与７４７Ｕ／ｍｇ。人脑及红细胞ＡＣｈＥ制备的酯酶与酰胺酶活性最适ｐＨ较接近,在ｐＨ７．５－８．０之间,酯酶活性底物ＡＴＣｈ对其芳基酰胺酶活性有抑制作用。ＩＣ_（５０）分别为１０．２×１０~（－３）及３×１０~（－３）ｍｏｌ／Ｌ。梭曼对其酯酶及酰胺酶活性均有明显抑制作用,说明二者均需活性中心丝氨酸参与。     

乙酰胆碱对培养T细胞功能的作用

本文研究不同浓度（１０＾－１０－１０＾－４ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）乙酰胆碱（ＡＣｈ）对离体培养的大鼠脾脏Ｔ淋巴细胞增殖的影响,并探讨其作用机制。实验结果表明：１０＾－９－１０＾－４ｍｏｌ／Ｌ可显著增强Ｔ细胞由刀豆素Ａ（Ｃ－Ａ）诱导的增殖反应,以１０＾－７－１０＾－６ｍｏｌ／Ｌ时最强。淋巴细胞先用ＡＣｈ刺激１ｈ或者刺激１ｈ后洗弃ＡＣｈ,再用ＣｏｎＡ诱导６ｈ的Ｔ细胞的增殖。１０＾－７－１０－６ｍｏｌ／Ｌ阿托品可阻     

内皮素和bFGF对MC的促增殖作用及胰岛素的协同效应

采用３Ｈ－ＴｄＲ参入法,测定碱性成纤维细胞生长因子（ｂＦＧＦ）、胰岛素和内皮素－１（ＥＴ－１）对体外培养的大鼠肾小球系膜细胞（ＭＣ）增殖的影响,以及胰岛素与ｂＦＧＦ或ＥＴ－１促ＭＣ增殖的协同作用。结果表明,不同浓度的ｂＦＧＦ（５－２００ｎｇ／ｍｌ）和胰岛素（０．１－２．４Ｕ／ｍｌ）均显著升高ＭＣ的３Ｈ－ＴｄＲ参入值（ｃｐｍ值）（Ｐ＜０．０１）。ＥＴ－１对ＭＣ的ｃｐｍ值的影响依剂量不同呈现两种不同的效应,在１０－９－１０－７ｍｏｌ／Ｌ时,随着浓度的升高,ＭＣ的ｃｐｍ值明显升高（Ｐ＜０．０１）,并以１０－８ｍｏｌ／Ｌ作用最强;当升高到１０－６ｍｏｌ／Ｌ时,ＭＣ的ｃｐｍ值出现降低趋势。胰岛素与ｂＦＧＦ或低浓度ＥＴ－１（≤１０－８ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）共同作用于ＭＣ时,ＭＣ的ｃｐｍ值明显高于二者单独作用之和（Ｐ＜０．０１）,与高浓度ＥＴ－１（＞１０－７ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）共同作用于ＭＣ时,ＭＣ的ｃｐｍ值小于二者单独作用之和（Ｐ＞０．０５）。上述结果说明,胰岛素、ｂＦＧＦ和ＥＴ－１均能显著促进ＭＣ增殖;胰岛素与ｂＦＧＦ或低浓度的ＥＴ－１促ＭＣ增殖具有正协同作用,与高浓度ＥＴ－１呈现负协同作用。     

蛋白激酶C对大鼠缺血海马突触体谷氨酸摄取的调控作用

采用大鼠海马脑片体外缺血模型,观察海马突触体内蛋白激酶Ｃ（ＰＫＣ）活性的变化,以及这种变化对突触体谷氨酸（ＧＬＵ）摄取的影响。结果显示：海马脑片体外“缺血”１０ｍｉｎ,其突触体内ＰＫＣ活性基本不变,而缺血３０ｍｉｎ,突触体内ＰＫＣ活性显著上升（Ｐ＜０．０１,ｎ＝６）;非Ｎ－甲基－Ｄ－天门冬氨酸（ＮＭＤＡ）受体拮抗剂ＤＮＱＸ有效地抑制ＰＫＣ活性的同时,可降低胞外ＧＬＵ的堆积,而ＮＭＤＡ受体阻断剂ＡＰ＿５无作用。进一步实验证明,ＰＫＣ激动剂ＰＤＢ浓度依赖性地抑制突触体对３Ｈ－ＧＬＵ的摄取（ＩＣ５０＝１３１±１０μｍｏｌ／Ｌ）,此抑制作用可由ＰＫＣ抑制剂Ｈ－７（１００μｍｏｌ／Ｌ）抵消。提示脑缺血诱发ＧＬＵ堆积的作用机理可能是：脑缺血引发钙内流导致ＧＬＵ过量释放,ＧＬＵ又通过突触前非ＮＭＤＡ受体激活ＰＫＣ,抑制其自身摄取,正反馈性加重胞外ＧＬＵ的堆积。     

P物质对大鼠DRG神经元胞体膜的作用

本文在大鼠ＤＲＧ神经元标本上应用细胞内记录,以确定ＳＰ对ＤＲＧ细胞的膜反应及其可能的离子机制。实验所测ＤＲＧ细胞静息膜电位为－５８．９±８．２ｍＶ（Ｘ±ＳＥ,ｎ＝８１）。传导速度：Ａ_（α／β）细胞为２０．４±４．８ｍ／ｓ（Ｘ±ＳＥ）,范围１４．１－２８．７ｍ／ｓ（４７／６０）;Ａδ及Ｃ类细胞为９．８±５．２ｍ／ｓ,范围１．２－１３．７ｍ／ｓ（１３／６０）。浴槽滴加ＳＰ（１０￣（－７）－３×１０￣（－４）ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）在大多数细胞可引起明显的膜去极化反应（５６／６０）。少数细胞对ＳＰ无反应（４／６０）。在ＳＰ去极化期间膜电导值有所增加,从平均值２．７２×１０￣（－８）ｍｈｏ增加２４．６％（ｎ＝３）。所测逆转电位值在＋４０－＋５０ｍＶ之间（ｎ＝３）。浊流平衡液（ＢＳＳ）中ＮａＣｌ以氯化胆碱置代,或用含ＴＴＸ（１０￣（－５）ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）的ＢＳＳ灌流,可使ＳＰ－去极化幅值大大减小但不能完全消除。而高（２０ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ）和低（０ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ）Ｃａ￣（２＋）的ＢＳＳ灌流时,使ＳＰ－去极化幅值相应的增加和降低。用含１０￣（－４）ｍｏｌ／ＬＣｄ￣（２＋）及１０￣（－２）ｍｏｌ／ＬＴＥＡ的ＢＳＳ灌流,均使ＳＰ－去极化明显减小。     

糖皮质激素及其他甾体激素对大鼠下丘脑薄片释放精氨酸加压素的影响

本工作采用离体孵育技术,观察大鼠下丘脑薄片（含有室旁核和视上核）释放精氨酸加压素（ＡＶＰ）和糖皮质激素（ＧＣ）及其他甾体激素对ＡＶＰ释放的快速影响。结果如下：（１）大鼠下丘脑薄片经过９０ｍｉｎ的恢复之后,在长达６ｈ的孵育过程中能够相当稳定地释放ＡＶＰ,释放量为９．０６±１．２３ｐｇ／ｍｉｎ;（２）皮质酮（Ｂ）在２０ｍｉｎ内可明显地抑制ＡＶＰ的释放,在１０－７—１０－４ｍｏｌ／Ｌ范围内呈剂量－效应关系;（３）在同一剂量（１０－６ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）,皮质醇、１７β－雌二醇和睾丸酮也可快速地抑制ＡＶＰ的释放,而相同剂量的地塞米松、醛固酮、孕酮、ＲＵ４８６和胆固醇却无此效应;（４）ＲＵ４８６（１０－７—１０－３ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）对ＡＶＰ的释放没有影响,但却能（１０－５—１０－３ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）部分地阻断Ｂ的快速抑制效应。这些结果表明,ＧＣ对大鼠下丘脑ＡＶＰ的释放具有不通过传统的基因组机制的快速抑制效应,此种抑制效应可能与ＧＣ的负反馈调节作用有关。     

α受体激动对绵羊心肌瞬时性内向离子流的影响

用乙酰毒毛旋花子甙元（ＡＳ）０．０５μｍｏｌ／Ｌ诱发绵羊心浦肯野纤维产生稳定的瞬时性内向离子流（Ｉｔｉ）,用普萘洛尔０．５μｍｏｌ／Ｌ阻断β受体,观察α受体激动剂苯肾上腺素（ＰＥ）０．３,１．０μｍｏｌ／Ｌ对Ｉｔｉ幅值与时程的影响。ＰＥ１．０μｍｏｌ／Ｌ灌流２０,５０ｍｉｎ时Ｉｔｉ幅值分别由对照值１２．８±１．９ｎＡ减小至１０．７±１．２ｎＡ（ｎ＝５,Ｐ＜０．０５）与９．６±１．９ｎＡ（ｎ＝５,Ｐ＜０．０１）;ＩｔｉＤ５０时程分别由对照值１４５±２４．４ｍｓ延长至１８３．３±２８．１ｍｓ（ｎ＝５,Ｐ＜０．０５）与２０７．５±３４．２ｍｓ（ｎ＝５,Ｐ＜０．０１）,ＰＥ对Ｉｔｉ的抑制作用呈剂量依赖性与时间依赖性。Ｉｔｉ到达峰值的时间和回复到基线的时间都延长,提示ＰＥ作用下Ｉｔｉ通道动力学发生了变化。如果在β受体激动剂异丙肾上腺素（ＩＳＯ）１．０μｍｏｌ／Ｌ增强Ｉｔｉ的基础上,ＰＥ１．０μｍｏｌ／Ｌ灌流１０ｍｉｎ,对Ｉｔｉ幅值的抑制及时程的延长作用更显著,Ｉｔｉ幅值由对照值１５．６±３．２ｎＡ减小到１０．３±２．２ｎＡ;ＩｔｉＤ５０由９２．５±１４．３ｍｓ延长到１３２．５±３６．０ｍｓ（ｎ＝５,Ｐ＜０．０１）。     

Multiple inhibitory effects of a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist on hCG-dependent steroidogenesis and on FSH-dependent responses in ovarian cells in vivo and in vitro

[125I] labelled [D-Leu6, des-Gly-NH10(2)] LH-RH ethylamide (LH-RHa), when injected into immature female rats, bound specifically not only to the pituitary but also to the ovaries. LH-RHa inhibited hCG-stimulated progesterone production and ovarian weight augmentation in hypophysectomized immature female rats in vivo. FSH-induced ovarian hCG receptors and ovarian weight gain in diethylstilbestrol (DES)-treated hypophysectomized immature female rats were also suppressed by LH-RHa. Progesterone production by rat luteal cells in vitro was inhibited by LH-RHa. LH-RHa did not change the affinity or population of LH/hCG receptor in porcine granulosa cells in short term incubation. However, LH-RHa inhibited induction of LH/hCG receptor stimulated by FSH and insulin in long term culture of porcine granulosa cells. LH-RHa delayed hCG-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation in porcine granulosa cells. These findings suggest that LH-RHa inhibits hCG-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation and subsequent progesterone production as well as FSH-stimulated LH/hCG receptor induction by acting directly on ovarian cells.     

Intraovarian thrombin and activated protein C signaling system regulates steroidogenesis during the periovulatory period

In addition to its role in blood coagulation, thrombin directly stimulates protease-activated receptors (PAR) or interacts with thrombomodulin (THBD) to activate membrane-bound protein C which stimulates PAR1 and PAR4 receptors to promote downstream pleiotropic effects. Our DNA microarray, RT-PCR, and immunostaining analyses demonstrated ovarian expression of THBD, activated protein C (APC) receptor [endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR)], as well as PAR1 and PAR4 receptors in mice. After treatment of gonadotropin-primed immature mice with an ovulatory dose of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) (a LH surrogate), major increases in the expression of THBD, EPCR, PAR1, and PAR4 were detected in granulosa and cumulus cells of preovulatory follicles. Immunoassay analyses demonstrated sustained increases in ovarian prothrombin and APC levels after hCG stimulation. We obtained luteinizing granulosa cells from mice treated sequentially with equine CG and hCG. Treatment of these cells with thrombin or agonists for PAR1 or PAR4 decreased basal and forskolin-induced cAMP biosynthesis and suppressed hCG-stimulated progesterone production. In cultured preovulatory follicles, treatment with hirudin (a thrombin antagonist) and SCH79797 (a PAR1 antagonist) augmented hCG-stimulated progesterone biosynthesis, suggesting a suppressive role of endogenous thrombin in steroidogenesis. Furthermore, intrabursal injection with hirudin or SCH79797 led to ipsilateral increases in ovarian progesterone content. Our findings demonstrated increased ovarian expression of key components of the thrombin-APC-PAR1/4 signaling system after LH/hCG stimulation, and this signaling pathway may allow optimal luteinization of preovulatory follicles. In addition to assessing the role of thrombin and associated genes in progesterone production by the periovulatory ovary, these findings provide a model with which to study molecular mechanisms underlying thrombin-APC-PAR1/4 signaling.     

Oxytocin and vasopressin have no effect on progesterone production and cyclic AMP accumulation by rat luteal cells in vitro

Enzymically dispersed luteal cells obtained from PMSG-hCG-treated immature pseudopregnant rats were incubated with oxytocin and vasopressin. In response to increasing doses of hCG the rat luteal cells produced progesterone and accumulated intracellular cAMP in a dose-dependent manner. A neuropeptide GnRH agonist (4 X 10(-6) M) produced a significant inhibition of hCG-stimulated progesterone production and of accumulation of intracellular cAMP. However, neither the basal nor the hCG-stimulated rate of progesterone production and level of intracellular cAMP was affected by the neurohypophysial peptides tested. Therefore, it is concluded that oxytocin and vasopressin do not have a direct action on steroidogenesis by rat luteal cells.     

Effects of aromatizable and nonaromatizable androgen treatments on luteinizing hormone receptors and ovulation induction in immature rats

The effects of androgen pretreatment on follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)-stimulated luteinizing hormone (LH) receptor induction in ovarian granulosa cells was examined. Immature female rats were treated with various doses (0.1-5 mg/rat) of testosterone (T), 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT), 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha,17 beta-diol (3 alpha-diol), or 5 alpha-androstane-3 beta,17 beta-diol (3 beta-diol). Subsequent follicular development was stimulated by treatment with ovine FSH. LH receptor induction in granulosa cells and ovulatory responses to 10 IU human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) were examined. Since LH receptor induction requires the synergistic action of both FSH and estradiol, the effects of the androgen pretreatment on FSH-stimulated estradiol production were also examined. Dihydrotestosterone treatment at doses greater than 1 mg inhibited LH receptor induction by approximately 70%, which resulted in absent ovulatory responses. Treatment with 1 mg or more of T or 3 alpha-diol had no effect on LH receptor induction, yet the hCG-stimulated ovulation rate was reduced to 40% of that seen in vehicle-treated controls. 3 beta-Diol, at a dose of 1 mg/rat, did not affect LH receptor induction but did reduce hCG-stimulated ovulation responses. No significant effects of androgen treatment on ovarian or uterine weight or FSH-stimulated estradiol production were observed. These results suggest that androgens can act at multiple sites to inhibit ovarian follicular development and function. In addition these studies demonstrate that, although LH receptor induction is necessary, it may not be a sufficient condition to ensure ovulation of ovarian follicles.     

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibits follicle-stimulating hormone-induced differentiation in cultured rat granulosa cells

We have investigated the effects of TNF-alpha on FSH-induced LH receptor expression, cAMP and progesterone production in cultured rat granulosa cells. TNF-alpha (0.5-100 ng/ml) inhibits the stimulating action of FSH on LH receptor formation in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 of 1 ng/ml and an almost complete suppression of LH receptor induction for 50-100 ng/ml TNF-alpha. The inhibitory effect of TNF-alpha is not due to variations in cell number or viability but rather to a reduction of the LH receptor content per cell with no change in binding affinity (KD = 0.8 x 10(-10)M). TNF-alpha also inhibits the FSH-induced cAMP production but at a lower extent, with a maximum reduction of 60% for 100 ng/ml TNF-alpha. Moreover, TNF-alpha impairs the LH receptor formation induced by forskolin, cholera toxin or 8-Bromo-cAMP, indicating that the cytokine also acts at a step distal to FSH receptor and to cAMP formation. Finally, TNF-alpha decreases dramatically the progesterone synthesis that is stimulated by FSH, with a reduction to undetectable levels on and after 10 ng/ml TNF-alpha. These results suggest that TNF-alpha may drastically reduce the capacity of granulosa cells to differentiate upon FSH stimulation and to respond to LH during the physiological ovarian follicular maturation. Such anti-gonadotropic action of TNF-alpha on granulosa cell differentiation may be also relevant to the alteration of ovarian function during physiopathological processes like inflammatory or infection diseases.     

Discordance in the effects of interleukin-1 on rat granulosa cell differentiation induced by follicle-stimulating hormone or activators of adenylate cyclase

Recombinant human interleukin-1 (IL-1) inhibits the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)-induced development of luteinizing hormone (LH) receptors and suppresses progesterone secretion in cultured rat granulosa cells. Since activation of adenylate cyclase by FSH is considered to be the primary second messenger system responsible for differentiation of granulosa cells, we examined whether IL-1 could alter the FSH, cholera toxin, or forskolin-induced accumulation of cyclic adenosine 3', 5'-monophosphate (cAMP) from these cells. In addition, we sought to determine if IL-1 could influence differentiation induced by the cAMP analog, 8-bromo cAMP. Cells collected from ovaries of immature, diethylstilbestrol-treated rats were stimulated to differentiate by addition of FSH, cholera toxin, forskolin, or 8-bromo cAMP to the cultures. IL-1 or interleukin-2 (IL-2) was added to some of the tubes, and the primary cultures were incubated for various periods of time. At the end of the culture, the tubes were centrifuged, the medium was saved for progesterone and cAMP radioimmunoassay, and the cells were assayed for specific 125I-human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) binding to determine the number of LH receptors. In the presence of FSH, IL-1, at a dose as small as 5 ng/ml, but not IL-2, significantly inhibited LH receptor formation and suppressed progesterone secretion in a dose-related manner. IL-1 also significantly suppressed FSH-induced cAMP accumulation after 72 h of incubation but did not appear to do so in a dose-related fashion. In the presence of FSH, IL-1 did not significantly alter the protein content of granulosa cells at the end of culture. During stimulation of granulosa cells with cholera toxin, forskolin, or 8-bromo cAMP, IL-1 significantly reduced LH receptor formation compared to that observed in the absence of IL-1. However, in contrast to IL-1 in the presence of FSH, IL-1 significantly augmented the forskolin-induced secretion of progesterone and accumulation of cAMP after 72 h at subsaturating doses of forskolin. Thus, IL-1 appeared to inhibit forskolin-induced and cholera toxin-induced formation of LH receptors even when cAMP levels were elevated. Similar to forskolin, 8-bromo cAMP-stimulated progesterone secretion was significantly enhanced by IL-1, but LH receptor formation was inhibited. Over a 72-h time course at single doses of FSH or forskolin, IL-1 did not affect cAMP accumulation until 48 h of culture, at which time IL-1 significantly suppressed FSH-induced, but augmented forskolin-induced, accumulation of cAMP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Introduction of a gonadotropin receptor expression plasmid into immortalized granulosa cells leads to reconstitution of hormone- dependent steroidogenesis

We have recently succeeded in immortalizing rat granulosa cells by co- transfection with SV-40 DNA and the Ha-ras oncogene. These cells lost their response to gonadotropins, but expressed the cytochrome P450scc mitochondrial system enzymes and produced progesterone and 20 alpha- hydroxy-4-pregnan-3-one (20 alpha-OH-P) upon cAMP stimulation (Suh, B. S., and A. Amsterdam. 1990. Endocrinology. 127:2489-2500; Hanukoglu, I., B. S. Suh, S. Himmelhoch, and A. Amsterdam. 1990. J. Cell Biol. 111:1973-1981). In an attempt to restore the steroidogenic response to gonadotropins in immortalized cells, lutropin/choriogonadotropin (LH/CG- R) receptor expression plasmid was prepared by introducing the complete coding region of LH receptor cDNA (McFarland, K. C., R. Sprengel, H. S. Phillips, M. Kohler, N. Rosemblit, K. Nikolics, D. L. Segaloff, and P. H. Seeburg. 1989. Science (Wash. DC). 245:494-499) into a SV-40 early promoter based eucaryotic expression vector. Granulosa cells from preovulatory follicles were transfected with this LH receptor expression plasmid, together with SV-40 DNA and the Ha-ras oncogene. Cell lines obtained after this triple transfection accumulated cAMP in a dose-dependent manner in response to hCG. Moreover, they produced progesterone and 20 alpha-OH-P upon hCG stimulation with an ED50 of 125 pM and 75 pM, respectively, which is within the physiological range. Concomitantly with hCG induced differentiation, inhibition of cell proliferation was evident following stimulation with hormone concentrations as low as 40 pM. The number of hCG receptor sites per cell after numerous passages and several freezing and thawing cycles was 1.9 x 10(4), they showed a Kd of 180 pM. Stimulation with hCG induced pronounced morphological and biochemical changes in these cells including formation of mitochondrial located adrenodoxin, a marker enzyme for enhanced steroidogenesis. These findings make possible the expression in immortalized granulosa cells, of selectively mutated receptor molecules which preserve their steroidogenic potential, thereby opening the way to analysis of structure-function relationships of the receptor molecule.     

Gamma-interferon inhibits rat granulosa cell differentiation in culture

A growing body of evidence indicates that factors secreted by cells of the immune system can directly affect a variety of endocrine phenomena. In the present study we examined the direct effects of the cytokine, interferon (IFN), on FSH-stimulated steroidogenesis and LH/hCG receptor induction in rat granulosa cells. We show that gamma-IFN, but not alpha-IFN, inhibits FSH-stimulated progesterone, 20 alpha-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one and estrogen production as well as gonadotropin-induced LH/hCG receptor formation in a dose-dependent manner. The results suggest that gamma-IFN may play a role in the maturation and differentiation of granulosa cells and thus may serve as a regulatory link between the immune and reproductive endocrine systems.     

Follicular fluid modulation of functional LH receptor induction in pig granulosa cells

Follicular fluid was collected from small (1-2 mm), medium (3-5 mm) and large (6-12 mm) follicles of pigs, treated with charcoal to remove steroids, and tested for effects on the induction of functional LH/hCG receptors in cultures of granulosa cells from small antral pig follicles. Granulosa cells were cultured for 2, 4 or 6 days in Medium 199 + 10% pig serum. Granulosa cells cultured in the presence of purified human FSH (0.1 microgram/ml, LER 8/117), insulin (1 mU/ml), cortisol (0.01 microgram/ml) and thyroxine (10(-7) M) accumulated a 4- to 8-fold increase in LH/hCG receptors compared to control cultures. The amounts of cyclic AMP and progesterone secreted after exposure to ovine LH (1 microgram/ml: NIH-S19) were also increased 2-3-fold and 80-100-fold, respectively. Exposure to FSH alone resulted in lower amounts of LH/hCG receptors with a concomitant decrease in optimum LH responses. Addition of 12.5-50% follicular fluid obtained from small (1-2 mm) follicles led to a dose-dependent inhibition of the FSH plus insulin, cortisol and thyroxine induction of LH/hCG receptors after 4 days of culture. Fluid from medium follicles showed reduced ability to inhibit LH/hCG receptor induction, and fluid from large follicles exerted only a slight inhibition or no inhibition of receptor induction. Fluid from medium-sized and large follicles exerted a progressive dose-dependent stimulation of progesterone secretion by the granulosa cell cultures. The inhibitory activity was precipitated primarily with 70% ethanol and to a lesser degree by 36 and 90% ethanol. These studies demonstrate that induction of functional LH/hCG receptors in cultures of pig granulosa cells from immature follicles is enhanced by including insulin, cortisol and thyroxine, in addition to FSH, in the culture medium, and that follicular fluid modulates both receptor induction and progesterone secretion as a function of follicular maturation.