Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine

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Original Article
Korean J Fertil Steril. 2006;33(1):15-24. Published online March 1, 2006.
Control Mechanisms of Ovarian Follicle Development by Follicle Stimulating Hormone and Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-activating Polypeptide.
Yu Il Lee, Jin Ok Shin, Mi Young Kim, Sang Young Chun
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea.
2Hormone Research Center, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea.
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.

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

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