title: Steroid levels and the spatiotemporal expression of steroidogenic enzymes and androgen receptor in developing ovaries of immature rats.
abstract: Immunoexpression of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD), cytochrome P450c17 (P450c17), androgen receptor (AR), and steroid contents were studied in the ovaries of immature female Wistar rats killed between postnatal days 1 and 30. During days 1-7, ovarian somatic structures lacked AR, 3β-HSD and P450c17, except for the surface epithelium, which featured the presence of these three proteins, suggestive of its androgen responsiveness and steroidogenic function. On day 10, AR appeared in many somatic structures, including the granulosa layers, which coincided with the P450c17 immunoexpression in some theca/interstitial cells, and an increase in ovarian androgen concentration. On the following days a further rise in ovarian androgen and progesterone contents paralleled an increase in 3β-HSD and P450c17 immunoexpression in the theca layer cells and primary interstitial cells. However, the development of the follicles constituting the first follicular wave was aberrant, since they lacked AR expression until the preantral stage and were characterized by a delayed onset and much lower expression of the thecal P450c17. They could not ovulate, since ovarian content of estradiol was too low to evoke the LH surge. The clusters of the secondary interstitial cells found on day 30 exhibited predominant expression of 3β-HSD over P450c17, suggesting more intensive progesterone than androgen synthesis in these structures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Tissue Culture, Chair of Animal Physiology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Galas
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Słomczyńska
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Knapczyk-Stwora
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Durlej
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Starowicz
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tabarowski
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rutka
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szołtys
mesh_terms: D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000728:Androgens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010053:Ovary / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013256:Steroids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013799:Theca Cells / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D013256:Steroids; D011374:Progesterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase