| Control Mechanisms of Ovarian Follicle Development by Follicle Stimulating Hormone and Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-activating Polypeptide. |
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Yu Il Lee, Jin Ok Shin, Mi Young Kim, Sang Young Chun |
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea.
2Hormone Research Center, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea. |
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| Abstract |
OBJECTIVE
Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), a novel hypothalamic neuropeptide, has been suggested to play a role in ovarian folliculogenesis. The present study evaluated the effect of PACAP on the growth of preantral follicles. METHODS: Preantral follicles were mechanically isolated from ovaries of 21-day-old rats and cultured in groups for 3 days in serum-free medium in the absence or presence of PACAP-38 (10-6 M). RESULTS: Treatment with PACAP-38 resulted in an increase in follicle diameter by 75% whereas treatment with follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) increased follicle diameter by 65%. PACAP-38 treatment enhanced the granulosa cell proliferation as measured by thymidine incorporation analysis. Furthermore, the production of progesterone by cultured granulosa cells and GFSHR-17 cell line was stimulated by PACAP-38. Interestingly, PACAP enhanced FSH action on stimulation of SF-1 and aromatase gene expression. CONCLUSION: The present results demonstrate that PACAP stimulated preantral follicle growth by potentiating proliferation and by stimulating steroidogenesis. |
| Key Words:
Ovarian folliculogenesis; Follicle stimulating hormone; Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) |
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