Hormonal modulation of gap junctions in rat ovarian follicles |
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Authors: | Robert C Burghardt Everett Anderson |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Biology, Texas A & M University, 77843 College Station, Texas, USA;(2) Department of Anatomy and Laboratory of Human Reproduction and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA |
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Abstract: | Summary Homocellular gap junctions between granulosa cells and between theca interna cells, and heterocellular gap junctions between granulosa cells and oocytes persist in rat ovarian follicles for as long as 90 days following hypophysectomy. Gonadotrophic and/or steroid hormones are therefore not required for the maintenance of gap junctions between these cells during early follicular growth. However, replacement therapy with estrogen and human chorionic gonadotrophin results in amplification of gap junctions in granulosa and theca interna cells respectively. Within 24 h following hormonal stimulation, growth of gap junctions is characterized by the appearance of formation plaques as observed in freeze-fracture replicas and by the association of microfilamentous material located subadjacent to gap junction membrane observable in thin-sectioned cells. |
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Keywords: | Gap junctions Hormonal modulation Rat ovary Granulosa cells Thecal cells |
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