title: Expression of follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone receptors during follicular growth in the domestic cat ovary.
abstract: In order to better understand the pituitary regulation of follicular growth in the domestic cat, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) receptors (R) were localized and quantified in relation to follicle diameter and atresia using in situ ligand binding on ovarian sections. Expression of FSHR was homogeneous and restricted to follicle granulosa cells from the early antral stage onwards, whereas expression of LHR was heterogeneous on theca cells of all follicles from the early antral stage onward, and homogeneous on granulosa cells of healthy follicles larger than 800 microm in diameter and in corpora lutea. LHR were also widely expressed as heterogeneous aggregates in the ovarian interstitial tissue. Atretic follicles exhibited significantly reduced levels of both FSHR and LHR on granulosa cells, compared with healthy follicles whatever the follicular diameter, whereas levels of LHR on theca cells were lower only for atretic follicles larger than 1,600 microm in diameter. In healthy follicles, levels of FSHR and LHR in all follicular compartments increased significantly with diameter. Although generally comparable to that observed in other mammals, the expression pattern of gonadotropin receptors in the cat ovary is characterized by an early acquisition of LHR on granulosa cells of growing follicles and islets of LH binding sites in the ovarian interstitial tissue.
authors.affiliation: UMR 1198 INRA/ENVA/CNRS, Biologie du Développement et Reproduction, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Maisons-Alfort Cedex, France. stdizier@inapg.fr
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saint-Dizier
authors.forename: Elise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Malandain
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thoumire
authors.forename: Benoit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Remy
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chastant-Maillard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D010053:Ovary / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D011962:Receptors, FSH / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011974:Receptors, LH / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011962:Receptors, FSH; D011974:Receptors, LH; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone