Differential responses of post-natal rat ovarian cells to FSH and activin

A role for activin in the acquisition of gonadotropin responsiveness by the post-natal rat ovary was investigated. The inhibin/activin subunits in terms of protein and mRNA, were localised in granulosa cells of the rat ovary at days 4, 8 and 12 after birth. A characteristic pattern of responses to F...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Molecular and cellular endocrinology 1996-08, Vol.122 (1), p.21-32
Main Authors: Drummond, A.E, Dyson, M, Mercer, J.E, Findlay, J.K
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activin
Activins
Age Factors
Animals
Cells, Cultured
Female
Follicle stimulating hormone
Follicle Stimulating Hormone - pharmacology
Gonadotropin
Granulosa Cells - metabolism
In Situ Hybridization
Inhibin
Inhibins - analysis
Inhibins - biosynthesis
Inhibins - pharmacology
Neonatal ovary
Progesterone - biosynthesis
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
RNA, Messenger - analysis
Steroidogenesis
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:A role for activin in the acquisition of gonadotropin responsiveness by the post-natal rat ovary was investigated. The inhibin/activin subunits in terms of protein and mRNA, were localised in granulosa cells of the rat ovary at days 4, 8 and 12 after birth. A characteristic pattern of responses to FSH for inhibin and progesterone (P) production was established using a dispersed ovarian cell bioassay. P production by day 4, 8 and 12 cultures was stimulated by FSH, but only when iso-butyl-methyl-xanthine (MIX) was present. In contrast, a basal level of inhibin production was measured in day 4 cultures which was not responsive to FSH or MIX. In day 8 and 12 cultures, inhibin production was FSH-responsive, but only in the absence of MIX. The addition of activin to cultures of day 4, 8 and 12 ovarian cells induced FSH-responsive P production and stimulated both basal and FSH-stimulated inhibin production. These studies indicate a differential response of neonatal ovarian cells to FSH in terms of P and inhibin production. Activin may play a role in facilitating the effects of FSH on signal transduction pathways leading to inhibin and steroid production and therefore be part of the mechanism which determines responsiveness of granulosa cells to FSH.
ISSN:0303-7207
1872-8057
DOI:10.1016/0303-7207(96)03867-1