Korean J Fertil Steril.  2006 Mar;33(1):15-24.

Control Mechanisms of Ovarian Follicle Development by Follicle Stimulating Hormone and Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-activating Polypeptide

• Lee YI
• Shin JO
• Kim MY
• Chun SY

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.

Keyword

Ovarian folliculogenesis; Follicle stimulating hormone; Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP)

MeSH Terms

Animals
Aromatase
Cell Line
Female
Follicle Stimulating Hormone*
Gene Expression
Granulosa Cells
Neuropeptides
Ovarian Follicle*
Ovary
Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide*
Progesterone
Rats
Thymidine
Aromatase
Follicle Stimulating Hormone
Neuropeptides
Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide
Progesterone
Thymidine