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Fibronectin stimulates growth but not follicle‐stimulating hormone‐dependent differentiation of rat granulosa cells in vitro
Author(s) -
Morley Paul,
Armstrong David T.,
GoreLangton Robert E.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
journal of cellular physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.529
H-Index - 174
eISSN - 1097-4652
pISSN - 0021-9541
DOI - 10.1002/jcp.1041320206
Subject(s) - fibronectin , medicine , endocrinology , biology , luteinizing hormone , follicle stimulating hormone , ovarian follicle , cell culture , follicular cell , cellular differentiation , microbiology and biotechnology , follicular phase , chemistry , hormone , biochemistry , extracellular matrix , genetics , gene
Abstract Since fibronectin is a secretory product of immature rat granulosa cells in culture and may contribute to the follicular microenvironment in vivo, we have studied the effects of this adhesion factor on follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH)‐dependent differentiation in short‐term (2–3‐day) cultures and on growth and protein synthesis in long‐term (12‐day) cultures. In comparison with cells plated on tissue culture plastic, those plated on an optimal fibronectin‐coated substratum showed much greater cell spreading. There were no short‐term effects of this morphological change on FSH‐stimulation of cyclic AMP production, apparent activities of aromatase or cholesterol side‐chain cleavage enzymes, or acquisition of luteinizing hormone (LH) responsiveness in cultured cells. However, progesterone metabolism to 20α‐hydroxypregnan‐4‐en‐3‐one was increased. Only cultures on fibronectin showed increases between days 3 and 9 in protein (2.5‐fold) and DNA (1.4‐fold) contents. Cells cultured on fibronectin also showed greater uptake and incorporation of [ 3 H]leucine in comparison with cells cultured on plastic. FSH treatment caused cell aggregation and rounding and delayed the increase in protein content of cells cultured on fibronectin. The results presented demonstrate that the principal direct effect of fibronectin‐mediated adhesion on rat granulosa cells is to enhance cell maintenance and growth, while having no generalized action on FSH‐dependent differentiation.