title: Effect of inhibin immunoneutralization on steroidogenesis in rat ovarian follicles in vitro.
abstract: Inhibin is a putative gonadal paracrine factor produced by FSH-stimulated granulosa cells. To assess the paracrine function of inhibin further, preantral follicles (approx. 240 microns) with attached thecal cells were isolated mechanically from immature rat ovaries and cultured individually in vitro for 5 days in medium containing homologous serum and FSH. After 5 days, follicles had grown to preovulatory size (approx. 470 microns) with a commensurate increase in oestradiol secretion but not progesterone. Immunoneutralization of endogenous inhibin resulted in a significant decrease in oestradiol secretion and an increase in progesterone accumulation. When antiserum-treated follicles were supplemented with exogenous inhibin, oestradiol secretion was restored and progesterone accumulation was reduced. Aromatase substrate (androstenedione) levels were too low to measure, regardless of antiserum treatment. However, follicles treated with inhibin antiserum in the presence of exogenous androstenedione also exhibited oestradiol levels similar to untreated controls while progesterone accumulation remained elevated. We interpret these data as evidence that inhibin secreted by FSH-stimulated granulosa cells exerts a physiologically significant paracrine function in the follicle wall. Based on previous observations that inhibin stimulates androgen synthesis by isolated thecal/interstitial cells, it is proposed that granulosa-derived inhibin promotes thecal androgen synthesis and hence oestrogen synthesis during preovulatory follicle development. The antiserum-induced increase in progesterone accumulation is most probably explained by reduced metabolism of C21 steroid substrate to androgen in thecal/interstitial cells deprived of inhibin. It is concluded that inhibin is a physiological modulator of follicular steroidogenesis which exerts its effect at the level of thecal cell androgen synthesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Smyth
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Gosden
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: McNeilly
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Hillier
mesh_terms: D000735:Androstenedione / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000494:pharmacology; D007265:Inhibins / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D007106:Immune Sera; D000735:Androstenedione; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007265:Inhibins