background: gap-junctional intercellular communication (gjic) is implicated in physicological processes and it is vitally important for granulosa cell (gc) differentiation and oocyte growth. we investigated the expression of connexin 43 (cx43), a gap junctional protein, in normal and androstenedione-induced polycystic ovary (pco), the effects of androstenedione on cx43 expression, gjic and prog...

In humans and canines, the morphology of granulosa cell tumors is extremely variable and causes diagnostic difficulties. In human pathology, immunohistochemistry has been widely used for the diagnosis of granulosa cell tumors, whereas, limited studies are present in canine species. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of cytokeratins, vimentin, and inhibin-alpha in canine nor...

We used electron microscopy, acid hydrolase cytochemistry, and biochemistry to analyze the uptake and metabolism of colloidal gold- and [3H]cholesteryl linoleate-labeled human low density lipoprotein (LDL) by cultured rat granulosa cells. The initial interaction of gold-LDL conjugates with granulosa cells occurred at binding sites diffusely distributed over the plasma membrane. After incubation...

Recently, a family of novel, serine/threonine protein kinases has been identified. One of these transcriptionally inducible, immediate-early genes encodes serum/glucocorticoid inducible-protein kinase, sgk. By in situ hybridization, we show that sgk expression in the rat ovary is selectively localized to granulosa cells. In culture, FSH or forskolin, activators of the protein kinase A (PKA) pat...

The establishment of dominant ovarian follicles that are capable of ovulating fertilizable oocytes is a fundamental determinant of female fertility. This process is governed by pituitary gonadotropins as well as local ovarian factors. Within the follicle, estrogen acts in an autocrine/paracrine manner to enhance FSH action in the granulosa cells. These effects include the augmentation of P450ar...

BACKGROUND Reproductive dysfunction in the diabetic female rat is associated with altered folliculogenesis and steroidogenesis. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in the reduction of steroid production have not been described. Adiponectin is an adipocytokine that has insulin-sensitizing actions including stimulation of glucose uptake in muscle and suppression of glucose production in li...

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play important roles in follicular development and survival. Granulosa cell death is associated with increased ROS, but the mechanism of granulosa cell death induced by ROS is not clear. In order to define the molecular link between ROS and granulosa cell death, COV434, human granulosa tumor cells, were treated with H2O2. Compared to control cells, H2O2 induced gra...

The gonadotropic hormones, LH and FSH, activate adenylyl cyclase in their respective target cells and thereby initiate many biochemical responses. In addition to stimulating cAMP production, both LH and FSH promote agonist-specific increases in the cytoplasmic concentration of free calcium ions ([Ca]i) in gonadal cells. Here, we have applied single cell fluorescence video microscopy with the Ca...

Interactions between mesenchymal-derived thecal cells and epithelial-derived granulosa cells are essential for follicular development in the ovary. These mesenchymal-epithelial cell interactions are in part mediated by keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and Kit ligand (KL). This study investigates the hypothesis that thecal cell-derived growth factors (e.g. KGF an...

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, one of the phthalates most widely distributed in the environment, causes reproductive toxicity that is attributable to the action of its primary metabolite, mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP). Here, we have investigated the effects of MEHP on steroidogenesis by primary cultures of rat Leydig cell progenitors and immature granulosa cells. This phthalate stimulated ...