title: Purified human alpha-fetoprotein inhibits follicle-stimulating hormone-stimulated estradiol production by porcine granulosa cells in culture.
abstract: We have investigated the effects of purified alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) on follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)-stimulated estradiol production by porcine granulosa cells in monolayer culture. Granulosa cells isolated from small follicles of prepubertal pigs were cultured for 2 days in 5% fetal bovine serum for attachment and incubated for 3 days in medium containing androstenedione and various treatments. The media were then collected and assayed for estradiol by radioimmunoassay. Human AFP significantly (P < 0.05) and dose-dependently inhibited FSH-stimulated estradiol production with 313 ng/ml AFP returning FSH-stimulated estradiol to basal levels; human serum albumin was without effect. AFP purified from either term cord blood or midtrimester amniotic fluid dose-dependently inhibited estradiol production stimulated by the combination of FSH and insulin-like growth factor-I. Furthermore, 125 ng/ml AFP inhibited estradiol production stimulated by cholera toxin, forskolin and cAMP. In contrast, extracellular accumulation of cAMP and progesterone production was not inhibited by AFP. These data indicate that physiological concentrations of purified AFP significantly and dose-dependently inhibit FSH-stimulated estradiol production by porcine granulosa cells in culture. Since AFP is known to augment growth factor-mediated cell growth, these data suggest that AFP inhibits differentiated functions (such as aromatase) while enhancing the proliferation of porcine granulosa cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita 67214.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Keel
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Eddy
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Gangrade
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: May
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D001141:Aromatase / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002772:Cholera Toxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000494:pharmacology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D013552:Swine; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D005576:Colforsin; D004958:Estradiol; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D002772:Cholera Toxin; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D001141:Aromatase