Paracrine regulation of theca androgen production by granulosa cells in the ovary

• Published in: Fertility and sterility Vol. 100; no. 2; pp. 561 - 567
• Main Authors: Hoang, Yvonne D., McTavish, Kirsten J., Chang, R. Jeffrey, Shimasaki, Shunichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.08.2013
• Subjects: Androgens - metabolism; Animals; antibodies; Aromatase - genetics; Aromatase - metabolism; Cells, Cultured; Cyp17; explants; Female; Follicle Stimulating Hormone - pharmacology; follicle-stimulating hormone; gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic - drug effects; granulosa cell; granulosa cells; Granulosa Cells - drug effects; Granulosa Cells - metabolism; in vitro studies; inhibin; Internal Medicine; messenger RNA; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Ovarian Follicle - drug effects; Ovarian Follicle - metabolism; Ovarian Follicle - physiology; Ovary - drug effects; Ovary - metabolism; Ovary - physiology; Paracrine Communication - drug effects; Paracrine Communication - genetics; Paracrine Communication - physiology; polycystic ovary syndrome; Primary Cell Culture; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction; Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase - genetics; Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase - metabolism; Theca cell; Theca Cells - drug effects; Theca Cells - metabolism; Theca Cells - physiology; Cyp17; granulosa cell; Theca cell; inhibin; polycystic ovary syndrome
• ISSN: 0015-0282; 1556-5653; 1556-5653
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2013.04.016

To test whether and to what extent inhibin mediates Cyp17 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in theca cells (TCs) in response to FSH stimulation of granulosa cells (GCs). Ex vivo and in vitro experimental study. University. Immature female Sprague Dawley rats. Ovarian tissue explants and isolated theca cell preparations with or without GCs were treated with FSH, inhibin, inhibin antibody, or β-glycan antibody. As a key enzyme in androgen production, Cyp17 mRNA levels were measured by real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. After 24 hours, Cyp17 mRNA expression was dose-dependently increased by FSH in ovarian tissue explants and theca cells, suggesting that paracrine factor(s) secreted from GCs in response to FSH mediates Cyp17 mRNA expression in TCs. Antibodies against inhibin and inhibin coreceptor, β-glycan, blocked the stimulatory effect of FSH on Cyp17 mRNA expression. However, inhibin alone did not increase Cyp17 mRNA level to the same extent. These findings suggest a role for inhibin in the paracrine regulation of TC Cyp17 mRNA expression by GCs influenced by FSH; however, other paracrine factors produced by GCs by virtue of FSH seem to be required.