title: Small nuclear RING finger protein expression during gonad development: regulation by gonadotropins and estrogen in the postnatal ovary.
abstract: Small nuclear RING finger protein (SNURF/RNF4) is a steroid receptor coregulator that is down-regulated in testicular germ cell cancer. In this work, we examined SNURF expression during murine fetal gonad development and postnatal ovarian folliculogenesis by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical staining. SNURF mRNA was detectable in gonads of both sexes from embryonic 10.5 days post conception onward. SNURF protein localized to gonocytes and somatic Leydig and Sertoli cells of fetal testis and in oogonia and supporting cells of fetal ovary. In murine postnatal ovary, SNURF mRNA and protein were expressed throughout folliculogenesis, peaking in the oocytes of preantral follicles. Lower amounts of SNURF mRNA and protein were also present in granulosa cells of secondary, antral, and preovulatory follicles and in luteal glands. Exposure of immature female mice and rats to gonadotropin from pregnant mare serum and human chorionic gonadotropin did not change dramatically SNURF mRNA levels in ovary. SNURF mRNA expression was increased in ovaries of immature mice treated with diethylstilbestrol, an effect that was blocked by the pure antiestrogen ICI 182,780. SNURF protein was constitutively expressed in oocytes of hypophysectomized rats, and its content was augmented by estradiol in granulosa cells. In granulosa cell culture, SNURF mRNA accumulation was transiently increased by treatment with the LH agonists phorbol myristate and forskolin at 4 h after treatment and at 48 h in differentiated cells expressing markers of the preovulatory phenotype. These results suggest a role for SNURF in fetal germ cell development as well as in oocyte and granulosa cell maturation in an estrogen- and gonadotropin-regulated fashion.
authors.affiliation: Biomedicum Helsinki, Institute of Biomedicine (Physiology), University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 63, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Sirpa J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hirvonen-Santti
authors.forename: Venkataraman
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sriraman
authors.forename: Mikko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anttonen
authors.forename: Saija
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Savolainen
authors.forename: Jorma J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Palvimo
authors.forename: Markku
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heikinheimo
authors.forename: Joanne S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: Olli A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Jänne
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development; D010053:Ovary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development*; D015347:RNA Probes; D016372:RNA, Antisense; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D013737:Testis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development*; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D004967:Estrogens; D006062:Gonadotropins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D015347:RNA Probes; D016372:RNA, Antisense; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C114070:RNF4 protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors; D005576:Colforsin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; C486410:Rnf4 protein, mouse; C486411:Rnf4 protein, rat; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate