Regulation of inhibin/activin expression in rat early antral follicles

Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2009 Oct 15;309(1-2):48-54. doi: 10.1016/j.mce.2009.05.003. Epub 2009 May 21.

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine the endocrine activity of cultured early antral follicles (EAF) isolated from prepubertal diethylstilbestrol-treated rats. The effect of steroidogenic substrates and FSH on steroid, inhibin A and B, Pro-alphaC and activin A production was evaluated. Androsterone was the predominant steroid produced by EAF. The addition of androstenedione, androstenedione+FSH and progesterone stimulated oestradiol production, whereas 25-hydroxycholesterol (25-OH-Chol) increased progesterone production. Inhibin A, B, Pro-alphaC, and activin A were produced under basal conditions. The predominance of inhibin B over inhibin A was not affected by the addition of androstenedione or progesterone. Inhibin A and activin A production was stimulated by FSH. 25-OH-Chol increased Inha, Inhba and Inhbb mRNA expression and the production of the three molecular forms of inhibins but decreased activin A production. These results show that FSH and the steroid follicular microenvironment differentially modulate the gene expression of inhibin/activin subunits, their assembly and secretion.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Activins / biosynthesis
  • Activins / genetics
  • Activins / metabolism*
  • Aminoglutethimide / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Female
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone / pharmacology
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Hydroxycholesterols / pharmacology
  • Inhibins / biosynthesis
  • Inhibins / genetics
  • Inhibins / metabolism*
  • Ovarian Follicle / drug effects
  • Ovarian Follicle / metabolism*
  • Protein Precursors / biosynthesis
  • Protein Precursors / genetics
  • Protein Precursors / metabolism*
  • Protein Subunits / genetics
  • Protein Subunits / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Steroids / biosynthesis

Substances

  • Hydroxycholesterols
  • Protein Precursors
  • Protein Subunits
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Steroids
  • activin A
  • inhibin A
  • inhibin B
  • inhibin-alpha subunit precursor
  • Aminoglutethimide
  • Activins
  • Inhibins
  • 25-hydroxycholesterol
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone