Expression of inhibin-activin subunits, follistatin and smads in granulosa-luteal cells collected at oocyte retrieval.
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.
Chang
Shiuh Young
SY
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center, Niao-Sung Hsiang, Kaohsiung County, 833, Taiwan.
Kang
Hong-Yo
HY
Lan
Kuo-Chung
KC
Hseh
Chang-Yi
CY
Huang
Fu-Jen
FJ
Huang
Ko-En
KE
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
D038681:Follistatin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051785:Smad Proteins; D051899:Smad2 Protein; D051900:Smad3 Protein; D051901:Smad4 Protein; D028341:Activins; D007265:Inhibins