title: Regulation of aromatase activity of rat granulosa cells: induction of synthesis of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase by FSH and dibutyryl cyclic AMP.
abstract: Aromatase is an enzyme complex that is composed of a specific form of cytochrome P-450 and a flavoprotein, NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase. Aromatase activity of granulosa cells is increased markedly by follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and by analogs of cyclic AMP. It was the objective of the present study to investigate the effects of FSH and dibutyryl cyclic AMP (Bt2cAMP) on the synthesis of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase in rat granulosa cells maintained in vitro. Granulosa cells were obtained from the ovaries of diethylstilbestrol (DES)-treated immature rats and were incubated in the presence of DES (10(-7) M), DES + FSH (250 ng/ml), or DES + Bt2cAMP (1 mM) for up to 72 h. After 72 h of incubation, aromatase activity of cells incubated with DES alone was 5 pmoles estrogen formed 2 h-1 mg-1 protein and was increased greater than 60-fold in cells incubated with FSH or Bt2cAMP. NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase was immunoisolated from [35S]methionine-labeled lysates of granulosa cells incubated for 72 h in the absence or presence of stimulatory factors. The rate of synthesis of reductase was found to be increased about 3-fold in cells incubated with DES + FSH or DES + Bt2cAMP as compared to cells incubated with DES alone. By immunoblot analysis we found that the cellular content of reductase was increased about 2-fold by FSH and Bt2cAMP treatment. Reductase specific activity was 10 nmoles min-1 mg-1 protein in membrane fractions of DES-treated cells and was increased 1.6-fold by FSH treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Durham
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Masters
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Mendelson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001141:Aromatase / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D003994:Bucladesine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol / Q000494:pharmacology; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000201:enzymology*; D009251:NADPH-Ferrihemoprotein Reductase / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D003994:Bucladesine; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D001141:Aromatase; D009251:NADPH-Ferrihemoprotein Reductase