The study investigates the correlation between oocyte maturity and fertilization and a variety of hormonal parameters in follicular fluid and ovarian granulosa cells. A methodology for purification of granulosa cells from contaminating blood cells is also established. A total of 63 follicular aspirates were collected at oocyte retrieval from 30 women superovulated using the long luteinizing hor...

We studied functional and morphological luteinization of granulosa cells in intact preovulatory follicles and in cultured granulosa cells collected from the proestrous follicles of the rat. Steroid hormones were measured by radioimmunoassay in follicles dissected from the ovaries every 2 hrs on the day of proestrus beginning at 8 : 00 hrs and terminating at the time of ovulation. Granulosa cell...

Granulosa cells play an important part in the nutrition of the oocyte during oogenesis (Raven, 1961). Anderson & Beams (1960) suggested that, in the primary follicle, nutritive material synthesized by the granulosa cells reaches the oocyte by diffusion across the zona pellucida. In the rabbit, follicle formation and elaboration of the zona pellucida begin at the end of the second week after bir...

Ovarian hormones (i.e., estrogen and LH) may promote folliculogenesis by regulating the local production of mesenchymal "inducer proteins" that mediate theca cell-granulosa cell interactions. Theca cells produce hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) that can stimulate granulosa cell growth. In order to investigate the physiological role of HGF in the ovarian follicle, the developmental and hormonal re...

Studies of mice with targeted disruptions of specific connexin genes have revealed that at least two connexins, connexin37 (Cx37) and connexin43 (Cx43), play essential roles in ovarian follicle development. To explore the respective roles of these two connexins in gap-junctional communication between the developing murine oocyte and its surrounding cumulus granulosa cells, we used confocal immu...

In studies using isolated ovarian granulosa and thecal cells it is important to assess the degree of cross contamination. Marker genes commonly used for granulosa cells include FSHR, CYP19A1 and AMH while CYP17A1 and INSL3 are used for thecal cells. To increase the number of marker genes available we compared expression microarray data from isolated theca interna with that from granulosa cells ...

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...

We used co-cultures of porcine ovarian granulosa cells and mouse adrenocortical tumor cells (Y-1) to examine the kinetics of contact-dependent intercellular signal transfer and to assess the molecular mechanisms employed by this process. Exposure to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) caused cAMP-dependent protein kinase dissociation in granulosa cells and, with time, in Y-1 cells if, and only i...

Folliculogenesis in domestic hens appears to be controlled by numerous factors, particularly the gonadotropins, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). The involvement of LH in follicular steroidogenesis has been described in some detail; however, the specific role of FSH has remained elusive. In 3 experiments, the effects of ovine (o)- or chicken (c)-derived FSH (oFSH,...

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a natural contaminant of various food and feed products representing a significant problem worldwide. Since the occurrence of ZEA in grains and feeds is frequent, the present study was carried out to evaluate the possible effects of ZEA on steroid production and gene expression of porcine granulosa cells, using RNA-seq analysis. Porcine granulosa cells were administered 10 ...