Rat granulosa cells produce a novel trypsin-like protease in response to gonadotropin treatment.
Rat ovaries produce a novel ovarian trypsin-like protease that is regulated during follicular development. The protease extracted from the ovaries of immature gonadotropin-treated female rats was unstable to denaturation, but was recoverable after non-denaturing electrophoresis. The activity was inhibited by synthetic serine protease inhibitors but not by aprotinin or soybean trypsin inhibitor, thus distinguishing the enzyme from pancreatic trypsin. Treatment with pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG) significantly increased the levels of enzyme in the ovarian granulosa cells (Control, 0.0027 units/10(6) cells; PMSG-treated, 0.0062 units/10(6) cells) which was also secreted by these cells. The novel enzyme described here may be important for matrix remodelling during follicular growth.
Bicsak
T A
TA
Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093.
Michelson
D S
DS
Hsueh
A J
AJ
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006064:Gonadotropins, Equine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D007700:Kinetics; D010053:Ovary / Q000201:enzymology; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014357:Trypsin
D006064:Gonadotropins, Equine; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; D014357:Trypsin