Genetic ablation of connexin37 (Cx37) or connexin43 (Cx43), the two gap junction proteins expressed by mouse ovarian granulosa cells, has been shown to result in impaired follicle development. We used patch-clamp techniques to evaluate quantitatively the contribution of these connexins to gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) among granulosa cells. The coupling conductance derived f...

Fas ligand (FasL) and its receptor Fas have been implicated in granulosa cell apoptosis during follicular atresia. Although interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) is believed to be involved in the regulation Fas expression in differentiated granulosa or granulosa-luteal cells, the expression of this cytokine and its role in the regulation of the granulosa cell Fas/FasL system and apoptosis during follicular ...

In studies using isolated ovarian granulosa and thecal cells it is important to assess the degree of cross contamination. Marker genes commonly used for granulosa cells include FSHR, CYP19A1 and AMH while CYP17A1 and INSL3 are used for thecal cells. To increase the number of marker genes available we compared expression microarray data from isolated theca interna with that from granulosa cells ...

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a natural contaminant of various food and feed products representing a significant problem worldwide. Since the occurrence of ZEA in grains and feeds is frequent, the present study was carried out to evaluate the possible effects of ZEA on steroid production and gene expression of porcine granulosa cells, using RNA-seq analysis. Porcine granulosa cells were administered 10 ...

The involvement of FSH and triiodothyronine (T(3)) in circadian clocks was investigated using immature granulosa cells of ovaries during the progress of cell maturation. Granulosa cells were prepared from preantral follicles of mouse Period2 (Per2)-dLuc reporter gene transgenic rats injected subcutaneously with the synthetic nonsteroidal estrogen diethylstilbestrol. Analysis of the cellular clo...

The discovery of displaced granulosa cells in the fallopian tube is concerning for a granulosa cell neoplasm and can lead to further surgical intervention. Discerning the risk of neoplasm can be challenging, even with immunohistochemical staining of CD56, a highly sensitive marker of granulosa cell neoplasm. A 48-year-old underwent an uncomplicated hysterectomy and bilateral salpingectomy for s...

Low progesterone levels are associated with luteal phase deficiency in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The mechanisms regulating progesterone biosynthesis in the granulosa cells from women with PCOS is largely unknown. Fractalkine is expressed in human ovaries, and is reported to regulate progesterone production in granulosa cells of healthy women. In the current study, we aimed to...

Granulosa cells play an important part in the nutrition of the oocyte during oogenesis (Raven, 1961). Anderson & Beams (1960) suggested that, in the primary follicle, nutritive material synthesized by the granulosa cells reaches the oocyte by diffusion across the zona pellucida. In the rabbit, follicle formation and elaboration of the zona pellucida begin at the end of the second week after bir...

Alginate, a non-toxic polysaccharide isolated from brown algae, is a widely used 3-dimensional (3D) porous scaffold for the granulosa cell and follicle encapsulation. However, impurities in commercial alginate can lead to alginate biocompatibility reduction. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro behavior of the granulosa cells seeded on the purified alginate in varying concent...

We used co-cultures of porcine ovarian granulosa cells and mouse adrenocortical tumor cells (Y-1) to examine the kinetics of contact-dependent intercellular signal transfer and to assess the molecular mechanisms employed by this process. Exposure to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) caused cAMP-dependent protein kinase dissociation in granulosa cells and, with time, in Y-1 cells if, and only i...