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PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
4
pubmed:dateCreated
2004-3-17
pubmed:abstractText
Apoptosis causes the elimination of ovarian germ cells and the atretic degeneration of ovarian follicles. Here we have used cultured rat preovulatory follicles to examine the regulation of effector caspase-3 and -7 in follicles undergoing apoptosis in the presence or absence of gonadotropins or IGF-I. Culturing follicles in the presence or absence of serum resulted in the induction of apoptosis of granulosa cells (GC), which was accompanied by effector caspase activation. Surprisingly, the addition of the survival factors LH or FSH, but not IGF-I, further increased caspase-3 and -7 activity. Immunohistochemistry studies of the LH- and FSH-treated follicles indicated that cleaved caspase-3 was predominantly localized to the peripheral theca-interstitial cells (TIC). Western blot analysis and caspase-3 and -7 activity assays of the separated follicular compartments confirmed that both LH and FSH treatments significantly enhance caspase-3 and -7 activity in TIC. The elevation in caspase-3 and -7 activity in TIC was accompanied by an increase in apoptosis. Interestingly, LH and FSH also induced an increase in caspase-3 and -7 activity in GC; however, this increase was accompanied by a decrease in apoptosis. Finally, we demonstrate that in freshly isolated preovulatory follicles and in antral follicles in intact ovaries, the expression level of procaspase-3 is significantly higher in TIC than in GC. Thus, LH and FSH have a dual effect on the cultured rat preovulatory follicle: an antiapoptotic effect on GC and a proapoptotic effect on TIC.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
AIM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Apr
pubmed:issn
0013-7227
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
145
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
1943-51
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed-meshheading:14726442-Animals, pubmed-meshheading:14726442-Apoptosis, pubmed-meshheading:14726442-Caspase 3, pubmed-meshheading:14726442-Caspase 7, pubmed-meshheading:14726442-Caspases, pubmed-meshheading:14726442-Culture Techniques, pubmed-meshheading:14726442-DNA Fragmentation, pubmed-meshheading:14726442-Female, pubmed-meshheading:14726442-Follicle Stimulating Hormone, pubmed-meshheading:14726442-Follicular Phase, pubmed-meshheading:14726442-Granulosa Cells, pubmed-meshheading:14726442-Humans, pubmed-meshheading:14726442-Luteinizing Hormone, pubmed-meshheading:14726442-Rats, pubmed-meshheading:14726442-Rats, Wistar, pubmed-meshheading:14726442-Recombinant Proteins, pubmed-meshheading:14726442-Sheep, pubmed-meshheading:14726442-Theca Cells, pubmed-meshheading:14726442-Time Factors
pubmed:year
2004
pubmed:articleTitle
Gonadotropins enhance caspase-3 and -7 activity and apoptosis in the theca-interstitial cells of rat preovulatory follicles in culture.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't