title: Control of inhibin production by primate granulosa cells.
abstract: In-vitro data from experiments on rats implicate granulosa cells as primary sites of hormone-dependent ovarian inhibin biosynthesis, but no equivalent data exist for primates. We have used the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) to investigate inhibin biosynthesis in primate granulosa cells in vitro and to determine its relationship to preovulatory follicular development. To relate the production of immunoactive inhibin to follicular maturity, we studied primary granulosa cell cultures from follicles at progressive stages of preovulatory development. Granulosa cells from 'large' (greater than or equal to 2.0 mm diameter) follicles expressed high rates of inhibin production and steroidogenesis (progesterone), and were positively regulated by human (h)LH in vitro. Less mature granulosa cells from 'medium' (1.1-1.9 mm) and 'small' (less than or equal to 1.0 mm) follicles expressed proportionately lower rates of inhibin production and steroidogenesis, but each parameter was stimulated in a dose- and time-dependent manner by hFSH in vitro. The stimulatory action of hFSH on immunoreactive inhibin was augmented by the presence of testosterone or oestradiol; testosterone (but not oestradiol) also augmented the steroidogenic response to hFSH. Marmoset luteal tissue also produced inhibin in vitro and expressed an approximately 1.5 kb inhibin alpha-subunit mRNA, confirming the corpus luteum as a source of ovarian inhibin in primates. These results provide direct experimental evidence that primate granulosa cells produce inhibin. They suggest that production of inhibin by immature granulosa cells is initially induced by FSH and subject to modulation by follicular steroids.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Edinburgh Centre for Reproductive Biology.
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Hillier
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Wickings
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Dixson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shimasaki
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Swanston
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Reichert
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: McNeilly
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002144:Callithrix; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D007265:Inhibins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007265:Inhibins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone