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Inhibin removes the inhibitory effects of activin on steroid enzyme expression and androgen production by normal ovarian thecal cells.

ABSTRACT: Activin and inhibin are important local modulators of theca cell steroidogenesis in the ovary. Using a serum-free primary theca cell culture system, this study investigated the effects of inhibin on theca cell androgen production and expression of steroidogenic enzymes. Androstenedione secretion from theca cells cultured in media containing activin, inhibin and follistatin was assessed by RIA over 144?h. Activin (1-100?ng/ml) suppressed androstenedione production. Inhibin (1-100?ng/ml) blocked the suppressive effects of added activin, but increased androstenedione production when added alone, suggesting it was blocking endogenous activin produced by theca cells. Addition of SB-431542 (activin receptor inhibitor) and follistatin (500?ng/ml) increased androstenedione production, supporting this concept. Infection of theca cells with adenoviruses expressing inhibitory Smad6 or 7 increased androstenedione secretion, confirming that the suppressive effects of activin required activation of the Smad2/3 pathway. Activin decreased the expression levels of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (STAR), whereas STAR expression was increased by inhibin and SB-431542, alone and in combination. CYP11A was unaffected. The expression of CYP17 encoding 17?-hydroxylase was unaffected by activin but increased by inhibin and SB-431542, and when added in combination the effect was further enhanced. The expression of 3?-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3?-HSD) was significantly decreased by activin, while inhibin alone and in combination with SB-431542 both potently increased the expression of 3?-HSD. In conclusion, activin suppressed theca cell androstenedione production by decreasing the expression of STAR and 3?-HSD. Inhibin and other blockers of activin action reversed this effect, supporting the concept that endogenous thecal activin modulates androgen production in theca cells.

SUBMITTER: Young JM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3266103 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Inhibin removes the inhibitory effects of activin on steroid enzyme expression and androgen production by normal ovarian thecal cells.

Young J M JM McNeilly A S AS

Journal of molecular endocrinology 20120125 1

Activin and inhibin are important local modulators of theca cell steroidogenesis in the ovary. Using a serum-free primary theca cell culture system, this study investigated the effects of inhibin on theca cell androgen production and expression of steroidogenic enzymes. Androstenedione secretion from theca cells cultured in media containing activin, inhibin and follistatin was assessed by RIA over 144 h. Activin (1-100 ng/ml) suppressed androstenedione production. Inhibin (1-100 ng/ml) blocked t ...[more]

PMID: 22082494

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Project description:BACKGROUND:Activin and inhibin are glycoproteins structurally related to the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily. These peptides were first described as factors that regulate the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) at the pituitary level. The possible role of inhibin and activin, at the ovarian level, in mediating the stimulatory actions of a Fundulus pituitary extract (FPE) and 17alpha,20beta-dihydroprogesterone (DHP) on oocyte maturation was investigated in this study. METHODS:In vitro culture of ovarian follicles and induction of oocyte maturation were carried out in 75% Leibovitz L-15 medium. Follicles or denuded oocytes were exposed to FPE, inhibin, activin, ethanol vehicle (control group), or DHP. The competence of the follicles or denuded oocytes to respond to the hormones was assessed by scoring germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) used as an indication of the reinitiation of meiosis or oocyte maturation. DHP level was measured by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS:Addition of FPE promoted the synthesis of DHP by the granulose cells of fully grown ovarian follicles and thus stimulated GVBD in the oocyte. Presence of porcine inhibin did not hinder the synthesis of DHP stimulated by FPE, although it did inhibit the subsequent GVBD in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting that the action of inhibin was at the oocyte level. Similarly to the findings with FPE, inhibin also blocked the DHP-induced GVBD in intact follicles, as well as the spontaneous and steroid-induced GVBD of denuded oocyte. Inhibin straightforwardly blocked the response to a low dose of DHP throughout the culture period, while higher doses of the steroid appeared to overcome the inhibitory effect especially at later times. In contrast to inhibin, recombinant human activin A significantly enhanced DHP-induced GVBD in a dose-dependent manner after 48 hr, although activin alone was not able to induce GVBD without the presence of the steroid. CONCLUSION:Taking together with our previous studies that demonstrate the presence of activin/inhibin subunits in the ovary of F. heteroclitus, these in vitro findings indicate that inhibin and activin are local regulators in the teleost ovary and have opposing effects in modulating oocyte maturation.

Dataset Information

Inhibin removes the inhibitory effects of activin on steroid enzyme expression and androgen production by normal ovarian thecal cells.

Publications

Inhibin removes the inhibitory effects of activin on steroid enzyme expression and androgen production by normal ovarian thecal cells.

Similar Datasets

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