title: Granulosa cell differentiation in vitro: induction and maintenance of follicle-stimulating hormone receptors by adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate.
abstract: Granulosa cell differentiation is stimulated in vitro by FSH and other agents that increase cAMP production. To determine if alterations in FSH receptors are associated with cAMP-mediated granulosa cell maturation, FSH-binding sites were measured during culture of undifferentiated granulosa cells from hypophysectomized diethylstilbestrol-implanted rats. FSH receptors decreased rapidly in the absence of stimulatory ligands, with loss of 75% and 90% of the FSH-binding activity from freshly prepared cells after 24 and 48 h, respectively. The decline in FSH receptors during culture was accompanied by a corresponding decrease in cAMP responses to added FSH. In cells cultured with FSH, the available FSH receptor content fell to 15% after 8 h, then rose to 25% of the initial receptor levels from 24-48 h of culture. Cells treated with 8-bromo-cAMP or choleragen for 48 h retained about 40% and 90%, respectively, of their initial FSH-binding activity. Although choleragen did not prevent the 60-70% fall in FSH binding during the first 6 h of culture, it increased receptors 2.5-fold from 12-48 h. Also, the addition of choleragen after 3, 6, or 12 h of culture elevated FSH receptors at 48 h in proportion to the amount of cAMP produced. The FSH receptors induced by choleragent treatment were functionally active, as shown by their ability to mediate FSH-stimulated cAMP production. A GnRH agonist prevented the choleragen-induced rise in FSH receptors and cAMP accumulation from 24-48 h of culture. Scatchard analysis revealed a single population of FSH receptors after all treatments, with association constant of 5 X 10(9) M-1. Freshly prepared cells contained approximately 1600 FSH binding sites/cell, while treatment with choleragen or FSH for 48 h restored receptor levels to 1150 and 500 sites/cell, respectively. These results indicate that the expression of functional FSH receptors during granulosa cell maturation is mediated by cAMP.
mesh_terms: D015124:8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002772:Cholera Toxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011962:Receptors, FSH
chemical_list: D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D011962:Receptors, FSH; D015124:8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D002772:Cholera Toxin; D000242:Cyclic AMP