title: AMP-activated protein kinase activation modulates progesterone secretion in granulosa cells from hen preovulatory follicles.
abstract: AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a fuel sensor in glucose, lipid, and cholesterol metabolism. Using RT-PCR and Western blot, AMPK subunits mRNAs (alpha1/2, beta1/2, and gamma1/2) and proteins (alpha1/2 and beta1/2) can be found in the hen preovulatory follicles and precisely in both granulosa and theca cells. These preovulatory follicles are organized in a hierarchy according to their size (F5/6 to F1). The smallest number (F1) corresponds to the largest size and the latest mature stage. Phosphorylation of AMPKalpha on Thr172 and of acetyl-CoA carboxylase on Ser79 are higher in F4 and F3 than in F1 granulosa cells. However, they are not affected in F4-F1 theca cells. Treatment with 1 mM 5-amino-imidazole-4-carboxyamide-1-beta-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR), an activator of AMPK, dose dependently increased phosphorylation of AMPKalpha on Thr172 in primary F3/4 and F1 granulosa cells. In the absence of FSH, AICAR treatment increased progesterone, P450 side chain cleavage and steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) production in both F3/4 and F1 granulosa cells. However, in the presence of FSH, AICAR treatment for 36 h increased progesterone secretion, StAR protein levels and reduced extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 phosphorylation in F3/4 granulosa cells. Opposite data were observed in F1 granulosa cells. Adenovirus-mediated expression of dominant-negative AMPK totally restored the effects of AICAR on FSH-induced progesterone secretion, StAR protein production, and ERK1/2 phosphorylation in F3/4 and F1 granulosa cells. Using a specific inhibitor of ERK1/2 (U0126), we also showed that this kinase is a negative regulator of the FSH-induced progesterone secretion in F3/4 and F1 granulosa cells, suggesting that AICAR-mediated AMPK activation modifies FSH-induced progesterone secretion differently through the ERK1/2 signaling pathway in hen F3/4 and F1 granulosa cells.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, France.
authors.forename: Lucie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tosca
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Crochet
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferré
authors.forename: Fabienne
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Foufelle
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tesseraud
authors.forename: Joëlle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dupont
mesh_terms: D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; D000620:Aminoimidazole Carboxamide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D002070:Butadienes / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002645:Chickens; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005498:Follicular Phase; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009570:Nitriles / Q000494:pharmacology; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012265:Ribonucleotides / Q000494:pharmacology; D014161:Transduction, Genetic / Q000379:methods; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein
chemical_list: D002070:Butadienes; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D009570:Nitriles; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D012265:Ribonucleotides; C113580:U 0126; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein; D000620:Aminoimidazole Carboxamide; D011374:Progesterone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; C031143:AICA ribonucleotide