To determine if insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) can directly modulate the hormone-dependent steroidogenesis of thecal cells in vitro, thecal cells from large (≥ 8 mm) follicles were collected from cattle and cultured for 4 d. IGFBP-3 inhibited IGF-I-induced thecal cell progesterone and androstenedione production by 52% and 89%, respectively. In contrast, IGFBP-3 had no ef...

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...

The origin of ovarian renin and its regulation by hCG were investigated in rabbit periovulatory follicles and cultured preovulatory follicular cells. Intracellular content of renin in thecal cells was 8-fold greater than of granulosa cells. In vivo, administration of hCG increased intracellular content of renin in thecal but not granulosa cells. Similar results were obtained for cultured follic...

TrkA, the nerve growth factor (NGF) tyrosine kinase receptor, is expressed not only in the nervous system, but also in nonneural cells, including discrete cellular subsets of the endocrine and immune system. In the rat ovary, trkA receptor abundance increases strikingly in thecal-interstitial cells during the hours preceding the first ovulation. Blockade of either trkA transducing capacity or N...

BACKGROUND Spine stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is becoming widely accepted as first-line treatment of oligometastatic spine disease as well as in the postoperative setting. The reported incidence of myelopathy is very low and guidelines vary widely on the maximum tolerable dose of the spinal cord and thecal sac. METHODS AND MATERIALS Between April 2008 and December 2010, radiatio...

Androgens have an important role in ovarian follicular growth and function, but circulating androgen concentrations are also associated with ovarian dysfunction, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic disorders in women. The extent and causes of the variation in androgen production in individuals, however, are unknown. Because thecal cells of follicles synthesize androstenedione and testosterone...

Intra-thecal chemotherapy is a recognized therapy for hematological malignancies such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Despite the advantage of these drugs in treating or preventing central nervous system disease, they are not without complications. The authors describe a 12-year-old girl with ALL, who developed progressive myelopathy following intra-thecal administration of cytosine arab...

Implants ofprogesterone on the day ofdioestrus II in the hamster induced on the following day an increase in circulating levels of progesterone (6\m=.\0\m=+-\0\m=.\7ng/ml, N = 8; sesame oil controls, <0.5 ng/ml, N = 6) and a decline in serum levels of LH (5\m=.\3\m=+-\0\m=.\4ng/ml; controls 12 \m=+-\2 ng/ml) and oestradiol (10 \m=+-\2 pg/ml ; controls 69 \m=+-\5 pg/ml). The production of andros...

Although ovarian theca cells play an indispensable role in folliculogenesis by providing follicular structural integrity and steroid substrates for estrogen production, little information is available about their recruitment, growth, and differentiation because their immature forms have not been identified. We have isolated putative thecal stem cells with the ability to self-renew and different...

One of the hallmarks of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is increased ovarian androgen secretion that contributes to the ovarian, hormonal, and metabolic features of this condition. Thecal cells from women with PCOS have an enhanced capacity for androgen synthesis. To investigate whether this propensity is a potential cause, rather than a consequence, of PCOS, we used an ovine prenatal androgen...