Expression of 17beta- and 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein in non-luteinizing bovine granulosa cells in vitro.

Granulosa cells of small follicles differentiate in vitro in serum-free medium, resulting in increased estradiol secretion and abundance of mRNA encoding cytochrome P450aromatase (P450arom). We tested the hypothesis that differentiation in vitro also involves increased expression of 3beta- and 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (HSD) in the absence of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) expression, as has been observed in vivo. Granulosa cells from small (<6 mm diameter) follicles were cultured for up to 6 days, and mRNA levels quantified by Northern hybridization or RT-PCR. Estradiol and progesterone concentrations in medium increased with time in culture, as did mRNA encoding P450arom, 3beta- and 17beta-HSD but not P450scc. Both P450arom and 17beta-HSD were significantly correlated with estradiol accumulation in culture medium. Progesterone secretion was correlated with 3beta-HSD but not P450scc mRNA levels. StAR mRNA was detectable by RT-PCR, did not change with duration of culture and was not correlated with progesterone secretion. FSH significantly stimulated P450arom and 17beta-HSD mRNA levels. Cell origin (from the antral or the basal layer of the membrana granulosa) did not affect steroidogenesis. We conclude that under the present cell culture system granulosa cells do not luteinize, and show expression of key steroidogenic enzymes in patterns similar to those occurring in differentiating follicles in vivo. Further, the data suggest that 17beta-HSD may be as important as P450arom in regulating estradiol secretion, and that 3beta-HSD is more important than P450scc as a regulator of progesterone secretion in non-luteinizing granulosa cells.

Expression and function of fibroblast growth factor 10 and its receptor, fibroblast growth factor receptor 2B, in bovine follicles.

Some fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) affect ovarian follicle cell growth and/or differentiation. Whereas many FGFs activate several FGF receptors, FGF7 and FGF10 primarily activate only one, FGFR2B. As FGF7 is produced by bovine theca cells and acts on granulosa cells, we tested the hypothesis that FGF10 may also play a role in folliculogenesis in cattle. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction demonstrated the presence of FGF10 mRNA in the oocytes and theca cells of the antral follicles, as well as in the preantral follicles. FGF10 protein was detected by immunohistochemistry in the oocytes of the preantral and antral follicles, and in the granulosa and theca cells of the antral follicles. FGF10 expression in theca cells changed during follicle development; mRNA abundance decreased with increasing follicular estradiol concentration in healthy follicles, and was lowest in highly atretic follicles. Culturing of granulosa cells in serum-free medium revealed FSH regulation of FGF10 receptor expression. The addition of FGF10 to cultured granulosa cells decreased the level of estradiol but did not alter cell proliferation. These data support a role for FGF10 in signaling to granulosa cells from theca cells and/or the oocyte.

Expression of fibroblast growth factor-8 and regulation of cognate receptors, fibroblast growth factor receptor-3c and -4, in bovine antral follicles.

Paracrine cell signaling is believed to be important for ovarian follicle development, and a role for some members of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family has been suggested. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that FGF-8 and its cognate receptors (FGFR3c and FGFR4) are expressed in bovine antral follicles. RT-PCR was used to analyze bovine Fgf8, Fgfr3c and Fgfr4 mRNA levels in oocytes, and granulosa and theca cells. Fgf8 expression was detected in oocytes and in granulosa and theca cells; this expression pattern differs from that reported in rodents. Granulosa and theca cells, but not oocytes, expressed Fgfr3c, and expression in granulosa cells increased significantly with follicle estradiol content, a major indicator of follicle health. Fgfr4 expression was restricted to theca cells in the follicle, and decreased significantly with increasing follicle size. To investigate the potential regulation of Fgfr3c expression in the bovine granulosa, cells were cultured in serum-free medium with FSH or IGF-I; gene expression was upregulated by FSH but not by IGF-I. The FSH-responsive and developmentally regulated patterns of Fgfr3c mRNA expression suggest that this receptor is a potential mediator of paracrine signaling to granulosa cells during antral follicle growth in cattle.