title: Role of ovarian theca and granulosa cell interaction in hormone productionand cell growth during the bovine follicular maturation process.
abstract: We have investigated the possible role of theca and granulosa cell interaction in the control of the hormone-producing activity and growth of granulosa and theca cells during bovine ovarian follicular development, using a coculture system in which granulosa and theca cells were grown on opposite sides of a collagen membrane. When follicular cells were isolated from small follicles (3-5 mm), theca cells reduced estradiol, progesterone, and inhibin production by granulosa cells to 14 +/- 5%, 64 +/- 6%, and 27 +/- 4%, respectively, of the production by granulosa cells cultured alone. On the other hand, when the cells were isolated from large follicles (15-18 mm), theca cells increased these levels to 253 +/- 34%, 156 +/- 24%, and 287 +/- 45%, respectively. Theca cells did not affect the growth of granulosa cells. Androstenedione production by theca cells was augmented by granulosa cells to 861 +/- 190% (in small follicles) and 1298 +/- 414% (in large follicles), respectively. The growth of theca cells was also augmented by granulosa cells (small follicle, 210 +/- 43%, and large follicle, 194 +/- 24%, respectively). These results indicate that theca cells secrete factor(s) inhibiting the differentiation of immature while promoting that of matured granulosa cells; they also suggest that granulosa cells secrete factor(s) promoting both the differentiation and growth of theca cells throughout the follicular maturation process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fukui Medical University, Matsuoka-Cho, Yoshida-Gun,Fukui 910-1193, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yada
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hosokawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tajima
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kotsuji
mesh_terms: D000735:Androstenedione / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004958:Estradiol / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D006728:Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007265:Inhibins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000502:physiology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013799:Theca Cells / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D000735:Androstenedione; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007265:Inhibins