title: Inhibition of rat granulosa cell differentiation by overexpression of Galphaq.
abstract: Activation of FSH and LH receptors in undifferentiated granulosa cells (i.e., no prior exposure to FSH) results in comparable induction of progesterone production, but activation of the LH receptor is less effective than FSH in inducing aromatase and the native LH receptor. Because the LH receptor can also activate the Galphaq signaling pathway, we investigated whether activation of this pathway could be responsible for these differences. Overexpression of Galphaq inhibited FSH induction of both the estradiol and progesterone biosynthetic pathways as well as mRNA levels for cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc), 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD), LH receptor (LHr), and P450aromatase (aromatase). This suppression was associated with a reduction (P < 0.05) in FSH-stimulated cAMP production. Lower cAMP levels were not due to reduced FSH receptor (FSHr) mRNA levels or reduced levels of Galphas. Phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity and regulator of G-protein signaling 2 (RGS2) mRNA levels were significantly (P < 0.05) increased by Galphaq, both of which could account for diminished cAMP levels. We conclude that Galphaq signaling pathway inhibits both estradiol and progesterone production comparably and thus activation of this pathway does not seem to account for differences between FSH and LH in the regulation of aromatase and the LH receptor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Magee-Womens Research Institute B309, University of Pittsburgh, 204 Craft Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
authors.forename: Rosalba
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Escamilla-Hernandez
authors.forename: Lynda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Little-Ihrig
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Zeleznik
mesh_terms: D015105:3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases / Q000378:metabolism; D015124:8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D043802:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gq-G11 / Q000235:genetics*; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D020710:RGS Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011962:Receptors, FSH / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D020710:RGS Proteins; C514563:RGS2 protein, rat; D011962:Receptors, FSH; D005576:Colforsin; D015124:8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D015105:3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D043802:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gq-G11