title: Expression of inhibin-activin subunits, follistatin and smads in granulosa-luteal cells collected at oocyte retrieval.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the expression of inhibin-activin subunits, follistatin, and Smads 2, 3 and 4 in granulosa-luteal cells at the time of oocyte retrieval.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was performed to quantify the mRNA expression of the investigated genes: inhibin alpha-subunit, inhibin-activin betaA- and betaB-subunits, follistatin, and Smads 2, 3 and 4.
  
  
  RESULTS
  alpha-, betaA- and betaB-subunits of inhibin-activin, and follistatin were all well expressed in granulosa-luteal cells obtained from either dominant or cohort follicles. alpha-subunits strongly correlated with Smad2 (p < 0.001). betaA-subunit significantly correlated with Smad4, p < 0.001. betaB-subunit significantly correlated with Smad2, p = 0.002, and follistatin expression strongly correlated with the expression of Smads 2 and 4 (p < 0.001 and = 0.007 respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found, for the first time that inhibin-activin betaB-subunit mRNA was well expressed in human granulosa-luteal cells obtained from either dominant or cohort follicles. alpha-, betaA- and betaB-subunits and follistatin correlated with Smads to varied degrees, suggesting the active roles of the above genes at the time of oocyte retrieval.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center, Niao-Sung Hsiang, Kaohsiung County, 833, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shiuh Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Hong-Yo
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Kuo-Chung
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Chang-Yi
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Hseh
authors.forename: Fu-Jen
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Ko-En
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D028341:Activins / Q000235:genetics*; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D038681:Follistatin / Q000235:genetics*; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000235:genetics*; D018587:Oocyte Donation; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D051785:Smad Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D051899:Smad2 Protein / Q000235:genetics; D051900:Smad3 Protein / Q000235:genetics; D051901:Smad4 Protein / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D038681:Follistatin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051785:Smad Proteins; D051899:Smad2 Protein; D051900:Smad3 Protein; D051901:Smad4 Protein; D028341:Activins; D007265:Inhibins