title: In vitro effect of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate on steroid receptors, aromatase, cyclooxygenase-2 expression, and steroid hormone production in preovulatory human granulosa cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effect of a low concentration of DHEAS on the expression of the androgen receptor, estrogen receptor alpha and beta, progesterone receptor, aromatase, 3-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, and cyclooxygenase-2 in human preovulatory granulosa cells, and to measure their production of steroid hormones (estrone, estradiol, progesterone, androstenedione, and testosterone).
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of cultured primary human preovulatory granulosa cells by real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and assays of hormone production.
  
  
  METHODS
  Osaka City University Postgraduate School of Medicine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Preovulatory granulosa cells were collected from follicular fluid obtained from patients undergoing transvaginal oocyte retrieval with ultrasound guidance. The cells were cultured in the absence or presence of a low concentration of DHEAS. Real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was performed to quantify the RNA expression of the investigated genes, and steroid hormone (estrone, estradiol, progesterone, androstenedione, and testosterone) levels were measured in the culture medium.
  
  
  METHODS
  Changes in [1] the levels of mRNAs encoding androgen receptor, estrogen receptor alpha, estrogen receptor beta, progesterone receptor, aromatase, 3-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, and cyclooxygenase-2; and [2] the levels of steroid hormones (estrone, estradiol, progesterone, androstenedione, and testosterone) in the culture medium.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment of granulosa cells with 20 ng/mL DHEAS increased the expression of androgen receptor, aromatase, 3-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, and cyclooxygenase-2, reduced the expression of estrogen receptor beta, and increased estrone and estradiol levels, but had no effect on progesterone, androstenedione, or testosterone levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DHEAS may be an essential trigger of ovulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan. albeltagykak3@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: ElBeltagy
authors.forename: Ken-ichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ozaki
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Misugi
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tokuyama
authors.forename: Masatsugu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Yukimi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kira
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ishiko
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001141:Aromatase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D001141:Aromatase; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human