We studied functional and morphological luteinization of granulosa cells in intact preovulatory follicles and in cultured granulosa cells collected from the proestrous follicles of the rat. Steroid hormones were measured by radioimmunoassay in follicles dissected from the ovaries every 2 hrs on the day of proestrus beginning at 8 : 00 hrs and terminating at the time of ovulation. Granulosa cell...

We previously reported that human follicular fluid contained a protein that inhibits binding of 125I-human FSH to its membrane receptor (FSH-BI) and demonstrates FSH-like agonist activity in vitro. The cellular origin of FSH-BI was unknown, although ovarian granulosa cells seemed a likely source. To address this question, human granulosa cells were collected from patients during routine in-vitr...

We have shown that inhibition of mTOR in granulosa cells and ovarian follicles results in compromised granulosa proliferation and reduced follicle growth. Further analysis here using spontaneously immortalized rat granulosa cells has revealed that mTOR pathway activity is enhanced during M-phase of the cell cycle. mTOR specific phosphorylation of p70S6 kinase and 4E-BP, and expression of Raptor...

BMPs expressed in the ovary differentially regulate steroidogenesis by granulosa cells. BMP-9, a circulating BMP, is associated with cell proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation in various tissues. However, the effects of BMP-9 on ovarian function have yet to be elucidated. Here we investigated BMP-9 actions on steroidogenesis using rat primary granulosa cells. BMP-9 potently suppressed FS...

background: epigenetic reprogramming of differentiated cells can modify somatic cells into pluripotential state. pluripotency can be induced in somatic cells by several approches. one of the easy ways to induce pluripotency is the exposure of the somatic cells to the embryonic stem cell (esc) extract. objective: the objective of this study was to increase the efficiency of reprogramming of gran...

Propylthiouracil (PTU) is a common and effective clinical medicine for the treatment of hyperthyroidism. Our previous study demonstrated that short-term treatment with PTU inhibits progesterone production in rat granulosa cells. However, our present results indicate that a 16-h treatment with PTU was able to stimulate pregnenolone production in rat granulosa cells, although progesterone product...

The present study was designed to explore the role of gap junctions in follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF beta1)-stimulated steroidogenesis in ovarian granulosa cells of gonadotropin-primed immature rats. There were three specific aims. First, we investigated the effect of FSH and TGF beta1 as well as lindane (a general gap junction blocker) on the leve...

Only a minute fraction of ovarian follicles present in a foetal ovary will complete the path to ovulation. The majority of the follicles will instead undergo atresia, a hormonally controlled apoptotic process. Apoptosis occurs throughout follicle development, with an extensive reduction in the number of follicles present at birth. Interestingly, this drastic reduction is not present among preov...