The effect of bovine activin and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) suppressing protein/follistatin on FSH-induced differentiation of rat granulosa cells in vitro.
The time- and dose-dependent effects of bovine activin A and bovine follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) suppressing protein (FSP) or follistatin on basal and FSH-induced steroidogenesis and inhibin production were studied in granulosa cells from immature, diethylstilbestrol (DES)-treated rats. In the presence of rat FSH (20 ng/ml) which stimulates aromatase activity and the production of progesterone and inhibin, activin (0.3-100 ng/ml) augmented all three parameters, whereas FSP (0.3-100 ng/ml) enhanced progesterone production and attenuated the other two parameters. In the absence of FSH, the basal parameters were unaffected by treatment with either activin or FSP alone, except for a statistically significant increase in basal inhibin in the presence of activin alone (P less than 0.05, at doses of 30 and 100 ng/ml). Neither activin nor FSP influenced the timing of the maxima of FSH-induced activities over 5 days. These findings suggest that activin and FSP, both present in follicular fluid, may play an important role in the local regulation of granulosa cell differentiation.
Xiao
S
S
Medical Research Centre, Prince Henry's Campus, Monash Medical Centre, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
Findlay
J K
JK
Robertson
D M
DM
D028341:Activins; D000818:Animals; D001141:Aromatase / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D038681:Follistatin; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D007265:Inhibins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors
D038681:Follistatin; D006023:Glycoproteins; D028341:Activins; D011374:Progesterone; D007265:Inhibins; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D004247:DNA; D001141:Aromatase