title: Expression and functional role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma in ovarian folliculogenesis in the sheep.
abstract: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARgamma) is a nuclear receptor that is activated by fatty acids and derivatives and the antidiabetic glitazones, which plays a role in the control of lipid and glucose homeostasis. In the present work, we tested the hypothesis that PPARgamma plays a role in reproductive tissues by studying its expression and function in the hypothalamo-pituitary-ovary axis in the sheep. PPARgamma 1 and PPARgamma 2 proteins and mRNAs were detected in whole ovine pituitary and ovary but not in hypothalamic extracts. In situ hybridization on ovarian section localized PPARgamma mRNA in the granulosa layer of follicles. Interestingly, PPARgamma expression was higher in small antral (1-3 mm diameter) than in preovulatory follicles (>5 mm diameter) (P < 0.001) and was not correlated with healthy status. To assess the biological activity of ovarian PPARgamma, ovine granulosa cells were transfected with a reporter construct driven by PPARgamma-responsive elements. Addition of rosiglitazone, a PPARgamma ligand, stimulated reporter gene expression, showing that endogenous PPARgamma is functional in ovine granulosa cells in vitro. Moreover, rosiglitazone inhibited granulosa cell proliferation (P < 0.05) and increased the secretion of progesterone in vitro (P < 0.05). This stimulation effect was stronger in granulosa cells from small than from large follicles. In contrast, rosiglitazone had no effect on LH, FSH, prolactin and growth hormone secretion by ovine pituitary cells in vitro. Overall, these data suggest that PPARgamma ligands might stimulate follicular differentiation in vivo likely through a direct action on granulosa cells rather than by modulating pituitary hormone secretion.
authors.affiliation: Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, UMR 6073 INRA-CNRS-Université F. Rabelais de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France.
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Froment
authors.forename: Stephane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fabre
authors.forename: Joelle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dupont
authors.forename: Claudine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pisselet
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chesneau
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Staels
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Monget
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002469:Cell Separation; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000378:metabolism; D015151:Immunoblotting; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000502:physiology*; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012756:Sheep; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D014157:Transcription Factors; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D013936:Thymidine