title: Involvement of transforming growth factor alpha in the regulation of rat ovarian X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein expression and follicular growth by follicle-stimulating hormone.
abstract: The expression of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), a member of a family of intracellular antiapoptotic proteins, is induced by FSH during follicular development in vivo. Whether the XIAP up-regulation by FSH (100 ng/ml) is a direct action of the gonadotropin and is important in the control of granulosa cell proliferation during follicular growth is unclear. The overall objective of the present study was to examine whether the FSH-induced XIAP expression and granulosa cell proliferation during follicular development is mediated by the secretion and action of intraovarian transforming growth factor alpha (TGFalpha). In rat follicles cultured for 2 and 4 days, FSH stimulated estradiol production, TGFalpha secretion, XIAP expression, and follicular growth. The theca cells are the primary follicular source of FSH-induced TGFalpha, as indicated by in situ hybridization. Intrafollicular injection of a neutralizing anti-TGFalpha antibody (50-200 ng/ml; immunoglobulin G as control) or addition of estradiol-antagonist ICI 182780 (0.5-100 nM) to the culture media suppressed FSH-induced XIAP expression and follicular growth. The effect of ICI 182780 could be partially reversed by high concentrations of estrogen (250 and 500 nM). Whereas TGFalpha (10-20 ng/ml) significantly increased granulosa cell XIAP content and proliferation in primary granulosa cell cultures, FSH alone was ineffective in eliciting the mitogenic response. Our results support the hypothesis that FSH stimulates granulosa cell proliferation via theca TGFalpha secretion and action in response to increased granulosa cell estradiol synthesis, and that XIAP up-regulation in response to FSH suppresses granulosa cell apoptosis and facilitates FSH-induced follicular growth.
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa Health Research Institute, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1Y 4E9.
authors.forename: Yifang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Asselin
authors.forename: Benjamin K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Tsang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism*; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D051636:X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D051636:X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone