title: Paracrine regulation of theca androgen production by granulosa cells in the ovary.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test whether and to what extent inhibin mediates Cyp17 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in theca cells (TCs) in response to FSH stimulation of granulosa cells (GCs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Ex vivo and in vitro experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immature female Sprague Dawley rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ovarian tissue explants and isolated theca cell preparations with or without GCs were treated with FSH, inhibin, inhibin antibody, or β-glycan antibody.
  
  
  METHODS
  As a key enzyme in androgen production, Cyp17 mRNA levels were measured by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 24 hours, Cyp17 mRNA expression was dose-dependently increased by FSH in ovarian tissue explants and theca cells, suggesting that paracrine factor(s) secreted from GCs in response to FSH mediates Cyp17 mRNA expression in TCs. Antibodies against inhibin and inhibin coreceptor, β-glycan, blocked the stimulatory effect of FSH on Cyp17 mRNA expression. However, inhibin alone did not increase Cyp17 mRNA level to the same extent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest a role for inhibin in the paracrine regulation of TC Cyp17 mRNA expression by GCs influenced by FSH; however, other paracrine factors produced by GCs by virtue of FSH seem to be required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine, La Jolla, California 92093-0633, USA.
authors.forename: Yvonne D
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Hoang
authors.forename: Kirsten J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: McTavish
authors.forename: R Jeffrey
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Shunichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shimasaki
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001141:Aromatase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D019899:Paracrine Communication / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013799:Theca Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D001141:Aromatase; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase
keywords: Cyp17; Theca cell; granulosa cell; inhibin; polycystic ovary syndrome