Regulation of the FSH Receptor in the Ovary

• Published in: Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism Vol. 10; no. 5; pp. 183 - 188
• Main Authors: Findlay, Jock K, Drummond, Ann E
• Format: Book Review Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier Ltd 01.07.1999; Elsevier
• Subjects: Activin; Biological and medical sciences; Cell receptors; Cell structures and functions; Estrogen; Follicles; FSH; FSH receptor mRNA; FSH receptor promoter; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Granulosa cells; Hormone receptors. Growth factor receptors. Cytokine receptors. Prostaglandin receptors; Molecular and cellular biology; Ovary; Ovary; FSH receptor promoter; FSH receptor mRNA; Estrogen; Granulosa cells; FSH; Activin; Follicles; Adenohypophyseal hormone; Gene; Transcription; Female genital system; Gonadotropin; Review; Gene expression; Biological receptor; Follicle stimulating hormone; Hormonal receptor
• ISSN: 1043-2760; 1879-3061
• DOI: 10.1016/S1043-2760(98)00144-1

The follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) is found exclusively on granulosa cells from as early as the two-layer or primary stage of folliculogenesis. Up to four alternatively spliced transcripts have been described. An increase in steady-state levels of FSHR mRNA as well as a change in alternative splicing appear to be important during early folliculogenesis. FSHRs remain on the granulosa cells of healthy follicles until they become atretic or luteinize, with relatively little change in receptor number per cell. Factors that increase expression are FSH itself, cAMP and its analogs, activin and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), whereas epidermal growth factor (EGF)/TGF-α decrease expression. The regulatory regions of the FSHR gene are more akin to ‘housekeeping' genes than to a highly regulated gene, and there is an E box in the promoter region. Regulation of the initial expression of FSHR mRNA at the two-granulosa cell layer stage of folliculogenesis is not understood. It will also be important to understand whether the alternatively spliced FSHR transcripts and their prevalence in the ovary during early folliculogenesis represent a biologically important phenomenon.