Abstract: 62

THE INTERACTIVE EFFECT OF FSH AND TGF ON THE SECRETION OF GELATINASE IN RAT GRANULOSA CELLS.

Li-Chung Chuang¹ , Ferng-Chun Ke² , Ming-Ting Lee³ , Chen-Hsien Teng¹ , Jiuan-Jiuan Hwang^{1 *}
Institute of Physiology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan. ¹
Department of Zoology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. ²
Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan. ³

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) stimulates granulosa cell growth and estradiol synthesis during ovarian follicular development, and the local factor transforming growth factor (TGF) enhances these functions of FSH in rat granulosa cells. FSH also increases the secretion of plasminogen activator involved in the remodeling of extracellular matrix (ECM) in rat granulosa cells. A recent study suggests that TGF may play a role in ECM remodeling during follicle growth in mares by regulating proteinase activity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the interactive effect of FSH and TGF on the secretion of gelatinase and the change of cell shape in rat granulosa cells. Granulosa cells, obtained from ovaries of eCG-primed immature rats, were treated once with FSH and TGF alone or in combinations for 2-day culture period. Cells were observed for morphological changes, and conditioned media were analyzed for gelatinase activity using gelatin zymography and scanning densitometry. This study shows that FSH dose-dependently increased the secretion of a major 63-kDa gelatinase, and TGF alone also stimulated its secretion. Furthermore, TGF augmented FSH-induced secretion of 63-kDa gelatinase. In addition, TGF enhanced FSH-induced cell rounding phenomenon, while TGF alone had no effect. This study demonstrates that TGF may act synergistically with FSH in modulating granulosa cell functions.

    This abstract is being presented on Sunday, August 1 at 8:00 AM to 10:15 AM at CUB 2nd Floor Ballroom.