In vitro effect of leptin on steroids' secretion by FSH- and LH-treated porcine small, medium and large preovulatory follicles

The role of exogenous leptin in the follicular steroidogenesis in pigs has not been fully elucidated and available data are controversial. In the current study porcine follicles were recovered from ovaries during early, middle, and preovulatory stages of the follicular phase of the estrous cycle. Follicles were cultured in the presence of the recombinant ovine leptin (oLEP) with or without LH (100 ng/ml) or FSH (100 ng/ml). Medium estradiol (E(2)), testosterone (T) and progesterone (P(4)) concentrations were determined after 48h of culture. Leptin at a dose of 2 ng/ml had no effect on basal E(2) and T secretion by small and medium follicles but decreased E(2) secretion by large follicles. Significant synergistic action of FSH and leptin resulting in a 2 - 5 fold stimulation of E(2) secretion by small and medium follicles was observed. The aromatase inhibitor, CGS 16949A augmented T secretion and inhibited E(2) secretion by control and FSH-treated medium follicles. In FSH and leptin-treated follicles, the inhibitory action of CGS 16949A on E(2) secretion was observed. However, there was no augmentation of T secretion. In leptin-treated follicles the stimulatory action on P(4) secretion was observed only during the preovulatory stage. In these follicles, significant synergistic action of leptin with LH on P(4) secretion was also noted. These results indicate that there is a maturation-dependent action of leptin on both E(2) and P(4) secretion. They also suggest a synergistic action of leptin and FSH on E(2) secretion by small and medium follicles as well as leptin and LH on P(4) secretion by large follicles in pigs.