ABSTRACT
Follicle-stimulating hormone is the major regulator of growth and development of antral follicles in the ovary. Granulosa cells (GCs) in these follicles are coupled via gap junctions (GJs) consisting of connexin 43 (Cx 43). Because we and others have found that Cx 43 and GJs, respectively, are more abundant in large antral follicles compared with small antral and preantral follicles, we hypothesized that FSH may control Cx 43 gene expression, GJ formation, and intercellular communication. To directly address these points, we chose a rat GC line (GFSHR-17) expressing the FSH receptor and the Cx 43 gene. The functionality of FSH receptors was shown by the effects of porcine FSH, namely cell rounding, reduced cellular proliferation, and stimulation of progesterone production of GFSHR-17 cells, which are effects that were detectable within hours. Treatment with FSH also statistically significantly increased Cx 43 mRNA levels, as shown after 6 to 9 h in Northern blots. These effects were antedated by altered GJ communication, which was observed within seconds. Using a single-cell/whole-cell patch clamp technique, we showed that FSH rapidly and reversibly enhanced electrical cell coupling of GFSHR-17 cells. Increased GJ communication was associated with statistically significantly decreased phosphorylation of Cx 43, which was observed within 10 min after FSH addition, during immunoprecipitation experiments. Our results demonstrate, to our knowledge for the first time, that the gonadotropin FSH acutely and directly stimulates intercellular communication of GFSHR-17 cells through existing GJs. Moreover, FSH also increases levels of Cx 43 mRNA. These changes are associated with reduced proliferation and enhanced differentiation of GFSHR-17 cells. In vivo factors in addition to FSH may be involved in the regulation of GJ/GJ communication between GCs in the follicle, but our results suggest that improved cell-to-cell coupling, enhanced Cx 43 gene expression, and possibly, formation of new GJs are direct consequences of FSH receptor activation and may antedate and/or initiate the pivotal effects of FSH on GCs.
Subject(s)
Cell Communication/drug effects , Connexin 43/biosynthesis , Follicle Stimulating Hormone/pharmacology , Gap Junctions/drug effects , Granulosa Cells/metabolism , Animals , Blotting, Northern , Blotting, Western , Cell Division/physiology , Cell Line , Connexin 43/genetics , Electrophysiology , Female , Fluorescent Antibody Technique , Granulosa Cells/drug effects , In Situ Hybridization , Patch-Clamp Techniques , Precipitin Tests , Rats , Rats, Sprague-DawleyABSTRACT
We present a review of the epidemiological evidence for relations of prostate cancer risk to circulating total and bioavailable androgens, to alterations in the metabolism of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and to anthropometric indices of longitudinal growth (body stature) and overweight. In addition, we review the physiological inter-relationships between insulin, growth hormone/IGF-1 axis, and sex steroid metabolism, as well as the associations of bioavailable sex steroid levels with overweight and obesity. A first conclusion of this review is that, taken together, epidemiological studies have provided little support for the hypothesis that prostate cancer risk is increased in men with elevated total or biovailable testosterone (T). Although one prospective study showed an increased risk in men with low plasma sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and with elevated plasma T for given levels of SHBG, this was not confirmed by results from other cohort studies. A second conclusion is that overweight, which is generally associated with moderate reductions in both total and bioavailable plasma T, appears to be unrelated to any significant increase or decrease in prostate cancer risk. However, significant increases in risk have been observed for men with a taller body stature, or with elevated plasma IGF-1. IGF-1 may directly enhance prostate tumorigenesis by inhibiting apoptosis and by stimulating cell proliferation. In addition, IGF-1 downregulates the synthesis of SHBG, and enhances sex steroid synthesis. Therefore, we do not entirely rule out that due to an elevation of plasma IGF-1 levels, men at increased risk of prostate cancer also have mildly elevated plasma bioavailable T, which epidemiological studies may have failed to demonstrate because of methodological problems. Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases (2000) 3, 157-172
