The adult human ovary is composed of various cell types. Preovulatory follicles contain two distinct types of granulosa cells that arise during folliculogenesis as the cell populations segregate upon formation of the fluid-filled follicular antrum. The granulosa cells line in the follicle wall, reside very close to the basement membrane and are essential for estrogen production and follicular r...

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...

the association of secreted frizzled related protein type 4 (sfrp4) as an antagonist of wnt mole-cules in apoptotic events has been reported previously. moreover, its increased expression has been reported in the ovary of women with polycystic ovary (pco). we have demonstrated in-creased sfrp4 in pco-induced rat ovary related to an increased number of apoptotic follicles showing nuclear ?cateni...

Objective Aspirated ovarian follicular fluids (FF) contain luteal granulosa cells (LGC) and other contaminating cell types. Several strategies such as the antibody binding methods, the flask method, the cell strainer, and the positive selection of granulosa aggregates after density gradient centrifugation, were tested as LGCs purification methods. Each of these strategies has its own advantages...

To investigate the early ovarian changes after cyclophosphamide treatment, immature rats primed for 48 h with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin were given injections i.p. of cyclophosphamide (100 mg/kg) at 1, 2, 4, 16, and 24 h before decapitation. Serum estradiol dropped significantly after 24 h of exposure to cyclophosphamide (P less than 0.001). Following 16 and 24 h of cyclophosphamide expos...

Oestrogens are pivotal in ovarian follicular growth, development and function, with fundamental roles in steroidogenesis, nurturing the oocyte and ovulation. Infections with bacteria such as Escherichia coli cause infertility in mammals at least in part by perturbing ovarian follicle function, characterised by suppression of oestradiol production. Ovarian follicle granulosa cells produce oestra...

The first aim of the research conducted as part of this thesis was to investigate the expression and activities of 11PHSD enzymes in porcine mural granulosa cells and COCs from small, medium and large antral follicles, as well as from ovarian cysts. Both cloned lipHSD enzymes (11 PHSD 1 and 11PHSD2) were expressed in porcine granulosa cells however the results of the expression studies in COCs ...

Cultured rat ovarian granulosa cells respond to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) by synthesizing and secreting plasminogen activator. The specificity of the response for FSH prompted us to explore the use of this system as an in vitro bioassay for FSH. The release of FSH by pituitary cell cultures has been examined by this method, as have been preparations of FSH of known biological activity....

Cultured rat ovarian granulosa cells respond to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) by synthesizing and secreting plasminogen activator. The specificity of the response for FSH prompted us to explore the use of this system as an in vitro bioassay for FSH. The release of FSH by pituitary cell cultures has been examined by this method, as have been preparations of FSH of known biological activity....