title: Stimulating effects of androgen on proliferation of cultured ovarian germ cells through androgenic and estrogenic actions in embryonic chickens.
abstract: The effect of androgen on germ cell proliferation was evaluated by a chicken ovarian germ-somatic cell co-culture model and the mechanisms were explored. Ovarian cells were dispersed from 18-day-old embryos, cultured in serum-free McCoy's 5A medium and challenged with testosterone (T) alone or in combinations with androgen receptor antagonist Flutamide, estrogen receptor antagonist Tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitor Letrozole for 48 h. Germ cells were identified by c-kit immunocytochemistry. The number of germ cells was counted and the proliferating cells were identified by immunocytochemistry of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). The labeling index (LI) was determined for germ cells. Results showed that T (10(-7) to 10(-6)M) significantly increased the number of germ cells (P<0.05) and this stimulating effect was inhibited by Flutamide (10-1000 ng/ml), Tamoxifen (10-1000 ng/ml) or Letrozole (10(-9) to 10(-7)M) in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, PCNA-LI of germ cells displayed similar changes with the numbers of germ cells. These results indicated that T-stimulated proliferation of cultured ovarian germ cells through both, androgenic and estrogenic actions in embryonic chickens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, No. 268 Kaixuan Road, Hangzhou 310029, PR China.
authors.forename: Hongyun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Caiqiao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xinyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Weidong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Yuling
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002642:Chick Embryo / Q000502:physiology*; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D005260:Female; D005485:Flutamide / Q000494:pharmacology; D006727:Hormone Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D000077289:Letrozole; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D009570:Nitriles / Q000494:pharmacology; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010063:Ovum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000378:metabolism; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000494:pharmacology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014230:Triazoles / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D006727:Hormone Antagonists; D009570:Nitriles; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D014230:Triazoles; D013629:Tamoxifen; D013739:Testosterone; D005485:Flutamide; D000077289:Letrozole; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit