Sites of transcription of the Müllerian inhibiting substance gene in mouse testis

The factors involved in the inhibition of ovarian follicular cellular growth after the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge are poorly established. The aim of this study was to investigate the production of an inhibitory growth factor by human ovarian cells. Luteinized granulosa cells were obtained from an assisted fertilization program and were cultured in the presence or absence of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol. Data obtained by cell counting showed that the number of human luteinized granulosa cells cultured in the presence of fetal bovine serum (10%) increased 1.8-fold within a 2-day period. In serum-free medium, human luteinized granulosa cells were able to incorporate ³H-thymidine, measured during consecutive 48 h periods. During all the periods tested (up to 7 days), low basal levels of thymidine incorporation were measured and were further reduced in the presence of FSH (200 ng/ml) and estradiol (500 ng/ml). To elucidate the possible production of an inhibitory growth factor, ³H-thymidine incorporation by rat granulosa cell cultures was measured in the presence of conditioned media (CM; from human granulosa cell cultures). In this system, FSH and estradiol elicited a tenfold increase in thymidine incorporation. The addition of CM (10% v/v collected on day 2) to FSH- and estradiol-treated granulosa cell cultures produced an inhibition (61%) of thymidine incorporation. The active factor in CM withstood freeze-thawing, was stable for several weeks at – 20°C, became unstable at 4°C, and was heat labile and sensitive to proteolysis. Ultrafiltration using membranes with different molecular weight cutoffs suggested that the factor had a molecular weight >30,000 dalton. We suggest that an inhibitory growth factor produced by human luteinized granulosa cells could be involved in the differentiation of growing follicles to corpus luteum. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Autocrine role of transforming growth factor beta1 on rat granulosa cell proliferation

We evaluated the effects of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1), alone or in combination with FSH and estradiol, on DNA synthesis in primary cultures of immature rat granulosa cells. 3H-Thymidine incorporation was significantly stimulated by TGFbeta1 (5.6-fold). This effect was enhanced by FSH (20 ng/ml, 27.7-fold) or estradiol (100 ng/ml, 13.4-fold) or by a combination of both hormones (59.2-fold). Measurement of TGFbeta bioactivity showed the presence of significant amounts of TGFbeta in conditioned medium from granulosa cell cultures, and most of the activity was present in the latent form. FSH alone or in combination with estradiol produced a marked suppression of the production of latent and active TGFbeta. Activated conditioned medium from control cultures of granulosa cell elicited a 1.4-fold increase in thymidine incorporation. This effect was markedly amplified by FSH (3-fold) and estradiol (4.3-fold) and by a combination of both (8.7-fold). The peptide containing the cell-binding domain of fibronectin (RGDSPC) partially inhibited thymidine incorporation stimulated by TGFbeta1. Fibronectin did not synergize with FSH, and the interaction between TGFbeta1 and FSH was even observed in the presence of this protein. The conclusions reached were as follows: 1) TGFbeta1 is an autocrine stimulator of rat granulosa cell DNA synthesis, 2) FSH and estradiol produce a suppression of latent and active TGFbeta production but markedly amplify TGFbeta action, presumably at a postreceptor level, and 3) the stimulatory effects of TGFbeta1 may be only partly mediated by the increased fibronectin secretion.     

RGD-mediated adhesion of porcine granulosa cells modulates their differentiation response to FSH in vitro

Porcine granulosa cells cultured in serum-free medium undergo metabolic and morphologic changes after follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) stimulation. Under these conditions, granulosa cells differentiate and tend to round up and their links with the plastic support are reduced. Coating of culture substratum with PepTite-2000, an integrin-binding synthetic peptide containing RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) sequences enhanced the plating of granulosa cells. Whether the peptide be present or not, cells cultivated in basal synthetic medium (without FSH) were flattened and attached to the substratum by stress fibers at focal contacts where integrin β1, extracellular fibronectin, and urokinase plasminogen activator colocalized. After FSH stimulation, part of the cells rounded up and F-actin took a more uniform, cortical localization. Correlatively, extracellular fibronectin aggregated in a clump, while integrin β1 and urokinase plasminogen activator spread over rounded cells. These morphological changes elicited by FSH were little affected by the presence of PepTite-2000, yet a larger number of cells remained flattened. However, concerning steroidogenesis, increasing concentrations of peptide seemed to favor progesterone rather than estrogen production, and to restrain luteinizing hormone (LH) receptor expression, suggesting a premature committment of cells towards luteinization rather than completion of follicular preovulatory differentiation.     

Transforming growth factor beta regulates the inhibitory actions of epidermal growth factor during granulosa cell differentiation

The effects of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) on epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor content and EGF action were studied in cultured granulosa cells from immature diethylstilbestrol-implanted rats. During follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)-induced differentiation in vitro, EGF receptors increased by 20-fold as measured by the binding of 125I-EGF to the intact cells. Addition of TGF-beta during the 48-h culture period amplified the stimulatory effects of FSH on EGF receptors up to 2-fold, with ED50 and maximal concentrations of 2.5 and 8 pM, respectively. Also TGF-beta alone in amounts from 1.6 to 16 pM increased EGF receptor content 4-fold. The stimulatory effects of TGF-beta were due to increased numbers of EGF receptors/cell, since the growth factor had no effect on the Kd (3-5 X 10(-11) M) of the high-affinity EGF binding site. TGF-beta action was observed within 20 h of granulosa cell culture and was maximal by 48 h of a 96-h culture. The stimulatory actions of TGF-beta in gonadotropin-induced cells were exerted through the cAMP effector system of the granulosa cell, since the growth factor also amplified the induction of EGF receptors by cholera toxin, forskolin, and 8-bromo-cAMP. The augmentation of EGF receptors by TGF-beta resulted in a parallel 2-fold increase in the inhibitory effects of EGF on FSH-induced cAMP production and luteinizing hormone receptor expression during granulosa cell development. TGF-beta did not increase granulosa cell numbers during culture although it elevated [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA by 2-fold over that of FSH-treated cells. These results indicate that TGF-beta regulates the effects of both FSH and EGF during granulosa cell differentiation and provides evidence that ovarian function may be controlled by the combined actions of gonadotropins and multiple growth factors.     

Effect of FSH and HCG on progesterone secretion by cultured oocyte-cumulus complexes and granulosa cells from porcine antral follicles: Influence of follicular development

Oocyte-cumulus complexes and granulosa cells were harvested from small (1–2 mm), medium (3–5 mm), and large (6–12 mm) porcine antral follicles and cultured for 2 and 3 days. The effects of various doses of purified hCG and human FSH on progesterone secretion and monolayer formation were examined. After a 2-day culture period it was found that FSH was more effective in stimulation of progesterone secretion by cultured oocyte-cumulus complexes than in granulosa cells harvested from small follicles (P < 0.01), whereas hCG was more effective in stimulating progesterone secretion in granulosa cells than in oocytecumulus complexes harvested from large follicles. In contrast, after a 3-day culture period, granulosa cells secreted more progesterone compared to oocytecumulus complexes under control conditions or in the presence of hCG or FSH. After 3 days both FSH and hCG stimulated progesterone secretion by oocytecumulus complexes and granulosa cells; however, the hormone effect was greater upon granulosa cells than oocyte-cumulus complexes. After 3 days of culture in the case of both follicular cell types, there was a greater response to FSH in the case of cells harvested from small compared to large follicles. The reverse was true in the case of hCG responsiveness. Monolayer formation ability of oocyte-cumulus complexes was greater in the case of complexes harvested from small and medium than complexes harvested from large follicles. Addition of hCG to the cultures led to a dose-dependent decrease in monolayer formation by oocyte-cumulus complexes harvested from all sizes of follicles.     

Follicle-stimulating hormone regulation of inhibin alpha- and beta(B)-subunit and follistatin messenger ribonucleic acid in cultured avian granulosa cells

FSH regulation of inhibin alpha-, beta(B)-subunit and follistatin mRNA was investigated in cultured chicken granulosa cells, which were isolated and pooled according to size from the F(4) + F(5) follicles, small yellow follicles (SYF), and large white follicles (LWF). In experiment 1 (four replicate experiments), granulosa cells were cultured, and the effect of FSH (50 ng/ml) on the growth of cells from the different follicles was examined at 24 and 48 h of culture. Cell viability was >95% for all of the granulosa cell cultures at 24 and 48 h. At 24 h, the number of granulosa cells in both the FSH-treated and the untreated cultures for all follicle types was numerically greater than the number of cells originally plated. At 48 h, FSH-treated cultures for all follicle types had twice (P: < 0. 05) the number of cells as the untreated cultures. In experiment 2 (three replicate experiments), FSH increased expression of the mRNA for inhibin alpha-subunit in LWF granulosa cells at 4 and 24 h to detectable levels and increased inhibin alpha-subunit protein accumulation to detectable levels by 24 h in granulosa cells from the LWF. FSH also increased (P: < 0.05) mRNA levels for the inhibin alpha-subunit at 4 and 24 h in SYF granulosa cells and at 24 h in F(4) + F(5) granulosa cells. The effects of FSH on follistatin and ss(B)-subunit were variable with respect to follicle development and culture duration. These results suggest that FSH plays an important role in stimulating the production of mRNA and protein for the inhibin alpha-subunit in small prehierarchical follicles.     

Culture of bovine granulosa cells in a chemically defined serum-free medium: the effect of insulin and fibronectin on the response to FSH

Granulosa cells from fully differentiated bovine follicles were cultured in serum-free medium for 4 days. At the end of culture, the number of viable cells was low (10-15% of cells plated on day one) and only progesterone secretion responded to FSH. Insulin increased the number of viable cells at the end of culture (ED50 # 70 ng/ml) and stimulated progesterone secretion (ED50 # 50 ng/ml); the secretion of oestradiol-17 beta over basal value was evident only for concentrations of 1000 and 10,000 ng/ml. FSH acted synergistically with insulin to modify steroid secretion. In the presence of 50 ng/ml of insulin, dose-response studies indicated that secretion of progesterone was maximal at 10 ng/ml of FSH and plateaud thereafter, while oestradiol output peaked at 2 ng/ml of FSH, decreasing at higher concentrations. When cells were seeded in wells precoated with fibronectin, a comparison with cells cultured on plastic showed an increase (30-40%) in the number of viable cells at the end of culture and in oestradiol secretion but a decrease in progesterone output. These results indicate that granulosa cells from large bovine follicles, cultured in a serum-free medium containing insulin, maintain their steroidogenic potency for at least 4 days. Moreover, they show that oestradiol and progesterone synthesis are differentially sensitive to FSH concentrations and that fibronectin increases oestradiol secretion in response to FSH.     

Mechanism of action of 2-hydroxyestradiol on steroidogenesis in ovarian granulosa cells: interactions with catecholamines and gonadotropins involve cyclic adenosine monophosphate

Previously we have shown that 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OH-E2) synergizes with catecholamines to enhance progesterone production by porcine granulosa cells in vitro. The present studies were undertaken to determine if the synergistic effects of 2-OH-E2 and catecholamines were 1) modulated by gonadotropins, 2) unique to catecholamines, and 3) mediated by cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). Undifferentiated granulosa cells from 1- to 3-mm porcine follicles were cultured in serum-free medium for periods of 6-9 days. A 3-day pretreatment plus a 4-day cotreatment versus a 4-day cotreatment of granulosa cell cultures with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) did not significantly alter progesterone production stimulated by a saturating concentration of epinephrine (EPI; 2 micrograms/ml) but significantly reduced the effect of 4 micrograms/ml 2-OH-E2 on Day 7 of culture. Four-day cotreatment of either FSH or luteinizing hormone (LH) from Day 3 to 7 of culture dramatically enhanced progesterone production stimulated by 2-OH-E2 and estradiol (E2) but not by EPI when measured on Day 7 of culture. Progesterone production (expressed as "-fold of controls") stimulated by 4-day treatment of EPI, 2-OH-E2, or EPI-plus-2-OH-E2 was 1.4 +/- 0.2, 8.2 +/- 2.2, and 10.7 +/- 1.0, respectively, in the presence of LH (n = 5 experiments), and 1.9 +/- 0.1, 7.8 +/- 1.4, and 10.6 +/- 1.8, respectively, in the presence of FSH (n = 3 experiments). Similar to E2, 2-OH-E2 significantly enhanced the stimulating effect of the cAMP analog 8-bromo-cAMP (0.5 mM) on progesterone production.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Bovine theca and granulosa cells interact to promote androgen production

Pieces of theca interna or follicle wall (theca interna + attached granulosa cells), obtained from bovine preovulatory follicles prior to the surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) and cultured for 3 days, secreted androstenedione. Luteinizing hormone, but not follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), increased production of androstenedione 3 to 4-fold. In both the presence and absence of LH, follicle wall preparations secreted about 4-fold more androstenedione than did equivalent amounts of theca interna tissue. Isolated granulosa cells produced only negligible quantities of androstenedione, which suggests that they may contribute to the greater production of androstenedione by follicle wall by supplying progestin precursor to the theca cells. The addition of pregnenolone or progesterone to isolated theca interna increased the secretion of androstenedione, but pregnenolone was by far the more effective precursor. This suggested that the delta 5 (delta 5) pathway is the preferred pathway for androstenedione synthesis by bovine theca cells and that granulosa cells might supply progestin precursor in the form of pregnenolone. Follicle wall and granulosa cell cultures secreted 2 and 7 times more pregnenolone, respectively, than did theca cultures. Luteinizing hormone, but not FSH, increased production of pregnenolone by the follicle wall, whereas the gonadotropins had no effect on secretion by either granulosa or theca cells. Since exogenous testosterone enhanced the production of pregnenolone by granulosa cells, thecal androgen (which is stimulated by LH) may increase the ability of granulosa cells to make pregnenolone and explain the stimulatory effect of LH on pregnenolone secretion by follicle wall.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

In vitro regulation of granulosa cell differentiation. Involvement of cytoskeletal protein expression

The link between the biochemical and morphological differentiation of granulosa cells was studied by investigating the organization and the expression of cytoskeletal proteins which determine cell shape and contacts. In cells treated with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), in a serum- and growth factor-free medium, or with other compounds which elevate cellular cAMP levels, the synthesis of the adherens junction proteins, vinculin, alpha-actinin, and actin was reduced significantly when compared to unstimulated cells (7-fold for vinculin, 5-fold for alpha-actinin, and 3-fold for actin). The in vitro translatability of the mRNAs coding for these proteins and the level of actin mRNA determined by RNA blot hybridization were generally reduced in differentiating cells. The synthesis and the organization of vimentin and tubulin was unaffected during this process, whereas the organization of actin and vinculin was dramatically affected, with FSH-treated cells displaying a diffuse pattern of actin and vinculin, with very little vinculin in adhesion plaques. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist and the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate which are known to antagonize the cAMP-mediated biochemical differentiation of granulosa cells by reducing cAMP levels or by activating protein kinase C and phospholipid turnover, blocked to a large extent the FSH-induced effect on the adherens junction proteins. Epidermal growth factor, which blocked the FSH-induced cAMP increase, but not the FSH-induced progesterone production, failed to block the synthesis of vinculin, alpha-actinin, and actin. Cytochalasin B could induce steroidogenesis and similar changes in the synthesis of these cytoskeletal proteins, whereas fibronectin, which causes cell spreading, blocked in part the FSH-induced effect on the expression of cytoskeletal proteins. The modulation of cytoskeletal proteins may therefore be an essential feature of programmed differentiation events leading to the final phenotype of granulosa cells.     

Fibronectin associated with the glial component of embryonic brain cell cultures

In a basic approach to investigations of neuronal–glial interactions during both normal brain development and its pathogenesis, embryonic brain cell populations were fractionated into purified neuronal and glial components. Using separation procedures based on differential adhesion and cytotoxicity, the isolated neuronal and glial phenotypes could be identified by distinct morphological and biochemical characteristics, including the visualization of glial fibrillary acid protein (GFA) within glial cells in immunohistochemical assays with monospecific anti-GFA serum. When unfractionated cerebrum cells dissociated from 10-day chick or 14-day mouse embryos were plated as monolayers and cultured for 1-14 days, monospecific antiserum against fibronectin (LETS glycoprotein) was found to react with many, but not all, of the cells as revealed by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy. The isolated neuronal and glial components of these populations were used to determine whether the appearance of membrane-associated fibronectin was characteristic of one cell type or the other, or both, and if neuronal–glial cell interaction was required for its expression. It was found that the surfaces of glial cells, completely isolated from neurons, showed an intense fluorescent reaction to the anti-fibronectin serum. In contrast, the purified neuronal cultures showed no fluorescence with either the anti-GFA or anti-fibronectin sera. These results demonstrate fibronectin as a cell surface protein associated primarily with glial cells and independent of neuronal–glial cell interaction for its expression. Furthermore, the results indicate that the fibronectin observed on glial cell surfaces in these cultures is produced endogenously and is not due to the preferential binding of fibronectin present in the culture medium. The role of fibronectin as an adhesive molecule in neuronal–glial interactions is discussed.     

Comparative effects of insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 on follicle-stimulating hormone-induced responses in porcine granulosa cells

The effect of insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) on progesterone secretion by porcine granulosa cells and their modulatory effect on follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)-induced responses were examined. For comparative purposes, growth hormone (GH), previously shown to stimulate IGF-1 secretion, was also included. Granulosa cells from ovarian follicles (3 to 5 mm) were cultured in multiwell plates for the first 48 hours, either in the presence or absence of 1% fetal bovine serum (FBS). Following plating, all cultures were maintained in serum-free media. The addition of only insulin, but not IGF-1 or GH, enhanced progesterone secretion under both culture conditions. When low-density lipoprotein was provided as steroid substrate, a stimulatory effect of insulin on progesterone accumulation was observed with a minimum dose of 10 ng/ml. Granulosa cells cultured in serum-free media from the time of plating secreted less progesterone and were less responsive to FSH compared with cultures plated with 1% FBS. Only insulin, but not IGF-1, enhanced FSH responses to threefold in cells cultured with 1% FBS. However, when cells were cultured in serum-free media from the time of plating, both insulin and IGF-1, but not GH, potentiated the responses to FSH, but insulin was more potent than IGF-1. Insulin-like growth-factor-1 binding studies with granulosa cells indicate the presence of specific high-affinity binding sites (Kd 3.96 nM). A dose of 100 ng/ml of insulin had negligible cross-reactivity with IGF-1 receptors.     

Development of a long-term serum-free culture system for immature granulosa cells from diethylstilboestrol-treated prepubertal rabbits: influence of androstenedione and fibronectin on FSH-induced cytodifferentiation

Granulosa cells from diethylstilboestrol-treated prepubertal rabbits were cultured for 6 days in M199 with FSH (1-100 ng ml(-1)) in uncoated or fibronectin-coated plates with or without androstenedione to define the time course profile of oestradiol and progesterone secretion, and the possible modulator role of androstenedione and fibronectin during FSH-induced rabbit granulosa cell differentiation. Every 48 h, cultures were photographed and samples of medium were collected and assayed by ELISA for oestradiol and progesterone. FSH increased oestradiol secretion in a dose-dependent manner. Androstenedione augmented FSH-stimulated oestradiol secretion, and led to a decrease in secretion of oestradiol with time in culture. FSH stimulated progesterone secretion in a dose-dependent manner. This was increased by androstenedione with 10 ng FSH ml(-1) (0-96 h) and 1 ng FSH ml(-1) (96-144 h). FSH-stimulated (100 ng ml(-1)) progesterone secretion decreased at 48-96 h. Fibronectin prevented this decrease, without affecting oestradiol or progesterone secretion at other time points. FSH caused cell reaggregation at 48 h. In conclusion, this serum-free culture system is appropriate for the study of mechanisms of rabbit granulosa cell differentiation. FSH induced cytodifferentiation and reaggregation of granulosa cells. Androstenedione appeared to act synergistically with FSH to promote steroidogenesis. Fibronectin sustained progesterone secretion during differentiation.     

Hormonal regulation of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in cultured ovarian granulosa cells. Effects of follicle-stimulating hormone and gonadotropin-releasing hormone

The hormonal regulation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase was examined in granulosa cells from diethylstilbestrol-implanted immature rats. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) increased the number of available cAMP-binding sites in a dose- and time-dependent manner, with a maximum 4-6-fold increase at 50-100 ng/ml between 6 and 48 h of culture after a transient decrease in available sites during the first 6 h. The potent gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist [D - Ala6]des - Gly10 - GnRH - N - ethylamide (GnRHa) reduced the FSH-induced increase in cAMP-binding sites by approximately 50% at 24 and 48 h of culture. Photoaffinity labeling with 8-azido-[32P] cAMP revealed the existence of one major cAMP-binding protein (Mr = 55,000 +/- 400) which appeared to be the regulatory (R) subunit of type II cAMP-dependent protein kinase. While FSH induced a 5-10-fold increase in the labeling of R II both in vivo and in vitro, GnRHa reduced the amount of R II induced by FSH in granulosa cells cultured for 48 h. The large increase in R II subunit was not accompanied by a corresponding increase in protein kinase activity, which was only enhanced by 50% after 48 h of culture with FSH. Fractionation of granulosa cell cytosol from FSH-treated ovaries on DEAE-cellulose showed a single peak of cAMP-dependent phosphokinase activity with the elution properties of a type II protein kinase. However, the peak of cAMP binding activity (eluted at 0.20 M KCl) was not coincident with the protein kinase activity. FSH transiently stimulated cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity during the first 10-30 min of culture. GnRHa impaired the FSH-induced early increase in protein kinase activity, causing a delay in activation until 60 min. These findings suggest that a large dose- and time-dependent increase in the content of cAMP-binding sites may be a major factor in cAMP-mediated differentiation of granulosa cells. The inhibitory effect of GnRHa on both FSH-induced protein kinase activation during the first minutes of culture and on FSH-induced R II synthesis during the subsequent 48 h of culture could be crucial events in the prevention of granulosa cell maturation by GnRH agonists.     

Hormone-induced intercellular signal transfer dissociates cyclic AMP- dependent protein kinase

We used co-cultures of porcine ovarian granulosa cells and mouse adrenocortical tumor cells (Y-1) to examine the kinetics of contact-dependent intercellular signal transfer and to assess the molecular mechanisms employed by this process. Exposure to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) caused cAMP-dependent protein kinase dissociation in granulosa cells and, with time, in Y-1 cells if, and only if, they contacted a responding granulosa cell. Y-1 cells close to a granulosa cell but not touching it failed to respond similarly. In reciprocal experiments, co-cultures were stimulated with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). Y-1 cells dissociated protein kinase as did granulosa cells in contact with Y-1 cells; however, granulosa cells that were not in contact with Y-1 cells failed to respond to the hormone. Fluorogenic steroids were secreted by Y-1 cells cultured alone and stimulated with ACTH, but were not secreted by cultures exposed to FSH. Neither hormone caused fluorogenic steroid production by granulosa cells. On the other hand these steroids were secreted in co-cultures stimulated with ACTH and to a lesser degree in co-cultures exposed to FSH. Autoradiography revealed that I125-FSH bound only to granulosa cells, never to Y-1 cells, even if they were in contact with an ovarian cell. The possibility of cell fusion was tested by experiments in which Y-1 cell membranes were labeled with cationized ferritin. These cells were then placed in co-culture with ovarian granulosa cells that had previously been allowed to ingest latex spheres. At regions of gap junctions between Y-1 and granulosa cells ferritin remained attached to the adrenal cell membrane and was never observed to migrate to the granulosa cell membrane. From these data, we conclude that hormone specific stimulation of one cell type leads to protein kinase dissociation in heterotypic partners only if they contact a hormone responsive cell. This signal transfer is bidirectional, exhibits temporal kinetics and occurs in the absence of apparent cell fusion. The only structural feature connecting Y-1 and granulosa cells were gap junctions implying they provided the communication channels; however, alternative mechanisms cannot be excluded. We have not established the identity of the signal being transferred although cAMP is a logical candidate.     

Prolactin modulates steroidogenesis by rat granulosa cells: I. Effects on progesterone

Either testosterone or follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) stimulates progesterone secretion by granulosa cells from rats but the combination of the two hormones increases progesterone production in a synergistic manner. We have investigated the effects of graded doses of prolactin (0, 0.02, 0.2, 2, or 10 micrograms/ml) alone or in combination with testosterone (0.5 microM), FSH (300 ng/ml), or FSH + testosterone on progesterone secretion by granulosa cells at two stages of differentiation. Relatively undifferentiated granulosa cells from immature, diethylstilbestrol-treated, hypophysectomized (HPX) rats were cultured in defined (serum-free) medium for 3 days. More highly differentiated granulosa cells were obtained on the morning of proestrus from the preovulatory follicles of 30-day-old rats induced to undergo an estrous cycle by injection with 4 IU pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin; these cells were cultured in medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum. Prolactin alone did not enhance the negligible secretion of progesterone by cells from HPX rats, but increased progesterone secretion by cells from proestrous rats. Prolactin significantly enhanced the stimulatory effects of testosterone or FSH alone on cells from both HPX and proestrous rats. When cultures containing both FSH + testosterone were treated with prolactin, progesterone secretion by cells from proestrous rats was significantly enhanced, whereas secretion by cells from HPX rats was significantly depressed. Therefore when cells from HPX rats were cultured with both FSH and testosterone, the direction of the effect of prolactin was reversed from that observed with prolactin + FSH or testosterone alone, and from that observed when cells from proestrous rats were cultured with prolactin + FSH + testosterone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Secretion of fibronectin by rat granulosa cells occurs primarily during early follicular development

Rats were pretreated with oestradiol-17 beta or PMSG, treatments producing mainly preantral and antral follicles respectively. The granulosa cells from these two treatments, E2- and PMSG-cells respectively, were cultured for 2 successive 24-h periods. Basal progesterone secretion, stimulated 3- to 5-fold by FSH, was almost 8-fold higher by PMSG-cells than by E2-cells at 24 and 48 h. Similarly, PMSG-cells secreted 16-fold more 20 alpha-dihydroprogesterone than did E2-cells, in the absence of FSH, and 6- to 10-fold more of the 20 alpha-reduced metabolite in the presence of FSH. In contrast, fibronectin secretion by PMSG-cells was only about 60% and 30% that by E2-cells at 24 and 48 h, respectively. Fibronectin secretion by E2- and PMSG-cells was reduced in the presence of FSH at 24 and at 48 h of culture. While cells in all treatment groups underwent spreading during culture to become elongated and irregular in outline, elevated fibronectin secretion in vitro was accompanied by enhanced cellular spreading. At 24 and 48 h of culture respectively, the mean area occupied by E2-cells on the culture surface was x 2 and x 1.6 that by PMSG-cells. Coincident with its inhibitory effect on fibronectin secretion, FSH reduced the mean area occupied by E2- and PMSG-cells on the culture surface at both time intervals. These findings suggest that granulosa cell fibronectin secretion is a feature of early follicular development. It may be that the secretion of this adhesive glycoprotein by granulosa cells provides a pool of fibronectin which is used for basement membrane deposition during follicular growth.     

Prolactin modulates steroidogenesis by rat granulosa cells: II. Effects on estradiol

The effects of prolactin on secretion of estradiol by rat granulosa cells obtained at two stages of differentiation and cultured under various conditions were determined. Relatively undifferentiated granulosa cells were obtained from immature, diethylstilbestrol-treated, hypophysectomized (HPX) rats and cultured in serum-free medium or with 10% serum. More highly differentiated granulosa cells were obtained on the morning of proestrous from the preovulatory follicles of immature rats in which an estrous cycle had been induced with 4 IU pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin; these cells were cultured in medium containing 10% serum. Cells were cultured for 3 days with graded doses of prolactin (0, 0.02, 0.2, 2, or 10 micrograms/ml) alone or in combination with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH; 300 ng/ml), testosterone (0.5 microM), or FSH + testosterone. In control cultures (no prolactin) the relatively undifferentiated granulosa cells from HPX rats secreted negligible quantities of estradiol except when both FSH and testosterone were supplied. Prolactin alone or in combination with FSH or testosterone had no effect on estradiol secretion, but prolactin in combination with FSH + testosterone significantly decreased secretion in a dose-dependent fashion. This set of prolactin treatments was applied in both serum-free medium and medium containing 10% serum, with similar results under both culture conditions. The inhibitory effects of prolactin appeared to be reversible if cells were cultured with prolactin for only 1 day, but were not reversed if cells were cultured with prolactin for 2 or 3 days.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

PGE2 and dibutyryl-cAMP enhance the response of rat granulosa cells to FSH

Granulosa cells isolated from immature Sprague-Dawley rat ovaries produce progesterone (31.7 pg/micrograms cell protein) in response to an acute FSH stimulus (5 micrograms/ml NIH-FSH-S11, 2 H). After culture for 48 h in the absence of hormones (control culture), progesterone production by the granulosa cells in response to FSH is significantly reduced (2.9 pg/micrograms cell protein). Cells cultured with prostaglandin E2 (PGE2, 1 microgram/ml) or dibutyryl-cAMP (dbcAMP, 1 mM) exhibited a discernibly greater steroidogenic response to FSH (12.5 and 53.4 pg/microgram cell protein, respectively) than that of control cultures. Therefore the presence of PGE2 or dbcAMP in the culture medium helps to maintain the steroidogenic capacity of granulosa cells in culture. It is probable that this capacity is maintained at a locus distal to the production of cAMP by FSH. Paradoxically, granulosa cells cultured with PGE2 produce less cAMP in response to FSH stimulation than cells in control cultures (15.9 vs. 250.3 fm/micrograms cell protein). This may be due to a suppressive effect of prior exposure to PGE2 on the subsequent activity of adenylate cyclase when the FSH is introduced and a concomitant elevation of phosphodiesterase activity.     

Follicle-stimulating hormone stimulated differentiation and progesterone production of bovine granulosa cells in culture

Progesterone production of granulosa cells cultured in vitro is stimulated and cell differentiation increased, by follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). This study examined whether the increased progesterone production observed when bovine granulosa cells are cultured occurs because (1) progesterone production by undifferentiated and/or differentiated cells is increased or (2) the differentiation of granulosa cells is stimulated. Viable bovine granulosa cells (2−3×10⁵) from follicles 5–8 mm in diameter were cultured in the presence of 0, 1, 10 and 100 μu FSH (1 μu ≡ 1 μg NIH-FSH-S1) for 6 days at 37°C in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO₂ in air in 1 ml of a 1:1 mixture of Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium: Ham's F10 medium supplemented with 365 μg ml⁻¹ l-glutamine, 100 U ml⁻¹ penicillin and 100 μg ml⁻¹ streptomycin. Progesterone production, total DNA and protein, and cell diameter were determined sequentially over the culture period. The increases in progesterone production (ng μg⁻¹ DNA per 24 h), cytoplasmic:nuclear ratio (μg protein μg⁻¹ DNA) and cell diameter (μm) over 6 days culture indicated that granulosa cells underwent differentiation in the presence of FSH. Progesterone production of undifferentiated granulosa cells (diameter 14 μm or less) was stimulated by FSH (P < 0.01) in a dose dependent manner (1.0±0.2, 2.9±0.3, 3.7±0.3 and 4.9±0.4 ng μg⁻¹ DNA per 24 h for 0, 1, 10 and 100 μu ml⁻¹ FSH respectively) but remained constant within dose (P > 0.05) during a 6 day culture period. FSH stimulated (P < 0.05) the rate of granulosa cell differentiation (10±3%, 53±13%, 74±21% and 82±10% differentiating cells per well for 0 μu, 1 μu, 10 μu and 100 μu ml⁻¹ FSH respectively) but did not stimulate (P > 0.05) progesterone production by differentiating granulosa cells (8.7±0.5 ng μg⁻¹ DNA per 24 h). In conclusion, the increase in progesterone production of FSH-stimulated granulosa cells cultured in vitro appears to be mainly due to an increase in the number of differentiating cells with a constant rather than an increasing progesterone production per cell.