Effect of adrenal and ovarian androgens on type 4 follicles unresponsive to FSH in immature mice

Citation
H. Wang et al., Effect of adrenal and ovarian androgens on type 4 follicles unresponsive to FSH in immature mice, ENDOCRINOL, 142(11), 2001, pp. 4930-4936
Citations number
37
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Endocrinology, Nutrition & Metabolism
Journal title
ENDOCRINOLOGY
ISSN journal
0013-7227 → ACNP
Volume
142
Issue
11
Year of publication
2001
Pages
4930 - 4936
Database
ISI
SICI code
0013-7227(200111)142:11<4930:EOAAOA>2.0.ZU;2-5
Abstract
The present study investigates the physiological significance of dehydroepi androsterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, T, androstenedione (Delta (4) ), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), estrone (E1), and E2 on recombinant human FSH - (rhFSH) resistant type 4 follicles obtained from immature mice. Type 4 fo llicles of a diameter of 100-120 mum with one or two granulosa cell layers around the oocyte and an intact basal lamina with theca cells were isolated from the ovaries of 11-d-old BDF-1 mice and cultured with medium alone (co ntrol) or with dehydroepiandrosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, T, D elta (4), DHT, E1, or E2 at concentrations ranging from 1 X 10(-11) to 1 X 10(-7) m for 4 d. We examined the mean diameters of type 4 follicles, level s of immunoreactive (IR)-inhibin, and E2 and progesterone in the culture me dia on day 4. In addition, we evaluated follicular cell proliferation by im munofluorescence staining with 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine. All tested androgen s significantly increased the diameter of type 4 follicles in a dose-depend ent manner without the production of IR-inhibin and E2. The nuclei of granu losa cells in type 4 follicles cultured with all tested androgens exhibited intense 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine-positive staining, compared with those of controls. In contrast, neither El nor E2 had any stimulatory effects. The s timulatory effects of T, Delta (4), or DHT were inhibited by an AR antagoni st in a dose-related fashion but not by an aromatase inhibitor. Furthermore , all tested androgens had a synergistic effect with rhFSH on follicular gr owth and the production of IR-inhibin and E2. These results demonstrated th at neither adrenal nor ovarian androgens are arteriogenic but that they sti mulate type 4 follicles unresponsive to rhFSH and augment the responsivenes s of these follicles to rhFSH.