AJP - Endocrinology and Metabolism, Vol 240, Issue 6 622-E629, Copyright © 1981 by American Physiological Society
Porcine granulosa cells in suspension culture. II. Luteinization and hCG responsiveness
A. R. LaBarbera and R. J. Ryan
Granulosa cells from small follicles were cultured as suspensions in
spinner flasks for 10 days in the absence or presence of
follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). With or without FSH, the cultured cells
ultrastructurally resembled luteinized cells to different degrees. FSH
increased progesterone accumulation in the culture medium. Ovine prolactin
potentiated the effect of FSH in terms of the quantity of progesterone
produced and the duration of accumulation. FSH increased acute human
chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-responsive progesterone secretion in
short-term incubations of cultured granulosa cells. Responsiveness of
FSH-cultured cells was maximal at day 4; that of control cultured cells was
maximal at day 6. Adenylate cyclase activity of homogenates of cells
cultured for 4, 6, or 8 days was measured. FSH induced in cultured cells an
hCG sensitivity of the adenylate cyclase enzyme. These results indicate
that FSH induced hCG-responsive progesterone secretion and hCG-responsive
adenylate cyclase activity that correlate with ultrastructural signs of
luteinization and with the previously reported FSH induction of hCG
receptors.
