| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||||
Regular Article |
a Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853
ABSTRACT
Ovarian follicular atresia occurs by apoptosis of granulosa and theca cells. The Fas antigen (Fas), a cell surface receptor that triggers apoptosis when activated by Fas ligand (FasL), may be involved in this process. A possible role of the Fas pathway in mediating serum withdrawal-induced apoptosis of granulosa cells was examined. Granulosa cells collected from 5- to 10-mm bovine follicles were cultured in DMEM-F12 containing serum for 3 days, deprived of serum, and live cells were counted at various times after serum withdrawal. Cell death increased significantly 6 h after serum withdrawal (21% ± 7%; P < 0.05 vs. 0 h) and continued to increase until 24 h (43% ± 6%). No further increases in cell death were observed through 72 h. Detection of the translocation of phosphatidylserine to the outer surface of the cell membrane by annexin V binding indicated that cells died by apoptosis. Quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assays showed no changes in Fas mRNA levels but a 4.7-fold increase in FasL mRNA 3 h after serum withdrawal (P < 0.05 vs. 0 h). FasL mRNA remained elevated through 24 h and returned to basal levels at 48 h. Immunohistochemical staining showed that both Fas and FasL protein increased on the cell surface within 3 h and remained elevated through 12 h (the last time point tested). Binding of FasL to Fas was blocked with two reagents that bind to the extracellular domain of FasL: an anti-FasL antibody and Fas:Fc, a chimeric protein consisting of the Fc portion of human immunoglobulin G and the extracellular domain of human Fas. Cell death 24 h after serum withdrawal was reduced 55% ± 10% and 34% ± 12% by anti-FasL antibody and Fas:Fc, respectively (P < 0.05 vs. no blocking protein). In conclusion, serum withdrawal-induced apoptosis of bovine granulosa cells is mediated at least partially by Fas/FasL interactions. These results are consistent with a potential role of Fas in an autocrine or paracrine pathway to trigger ovarian follicular atresia.
1 This work was supported by grant 98-35203-6220 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and grant HD 32535 from the National Institutes of Health.
2 Correspondence: Susan M. Quirk, 258 Morrison Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853. FAX: 607 255 9829; smq1{at}cornell.edu
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  S Ikeda, K Saeki, H Imai, and M Yamada Abilities of cumulus and granulosa cells to enhance the developmental competence of bovine oocytes during in vitro maturation period are promoted by midkine; a possible implication of its apoptosis suppressing effects. Reproduction, October 1, 2006; 132(4): 549 - 557. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 N. Duerrschmidt, O. Zabirnyk, M. Nowicki, A. Ricken, F. A. Hmeidan, V. Blumenauer, J. Borlak, and K. Spanel-Borowski Lectin-Like Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor-1-Mediated Autophagy in Human Granulosa Cells as an Alternative of Programmed Cell Death Endocrinology, August 1, 2006; 147(8): 3851 - 3860. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. M Quirk, R. G Cowan, and R. M Harman The susceptibility of granulosa cells to apoptosis is influenced by oestradiol and the cell cycle. J. Endocrinol., June 1, 2006; 189(3): 441 - 453. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. A Margalit, R. G Cowan, R. M Harman, and S. M Quirk Apoptosis of bovine ovarian surface epithelial cells by Fas antigen/Fas ligand signaling Reproduction, November 1, 2005; 130(5): 751 - 758. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. R. Hussein Apoptosis in the ovary: molecular mechanisms Hum. Reprod. Update, March 1, 2005; 11(2): 162 - 178. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. M. Quirk, R. G. Cowan, and R. M. Harman Progesterone Receptor and the Cell Cycle Modulate Apoptosis in Granulosa Cells Endocrinology, November 1, 2004; 145(11): 5033 - 5043. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 F. J. Rubio Pomar, B. A.J. Roelen, K. A. Slot, H. T.A. van Tol, B. Colenbrander, and K. J. Teerds Role of Fas-Mediated Apoptosis and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone on the Developmental Capacity of Bovine Cumulus Oocyte Complexes In Vitro Biol Reprod, September 1, 2004; 71(3): 790 - 796. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C.-L. Hu, R. G. Cowan, R. M. Harman, and S. M. Quirk Cell Cycle Progression and Activation of Akt Kinase Are Required for Insulin-Like Growth Factor I-Mediated Suppression of Apoptosis in Granulosa Cells Mol. Endocrinol., February 1, 2004; 18(2): 326 - 338. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. M. Quirk, R. G. Cowan, R. M. Harman, C.-L. Hu, and D. A. Porter Ovarian follicular growth and atresia: The relationship between cell proliferation and survival J Anim Sci, January 1, 2004; 82(13_suppl): E40 - 52. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
F. Jimenez-Krassel, M. E. Winn, D. Burns, J. L. H. Ireland, and J. J. Ireland Evidence for a Negative Intrafollicular Role for Inhibin in Regulation of Estradiol Production by Granulosa Cells Endocrinology, May 1, 2003; 144(5): 1876 - 1886. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 E. Sapi, W. D. Brown, S. Aschkenazi, C. Lim, A. Munoz, B. M. Kacinski, T. Rutherford, and G. Mor Regulation of Fas Ligand Expression By Estrogen in Normal Ovary Reproductive Sciences, July 1, 2002; 9(4): 243 - 250. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. Tajima, M. Orisaka, K. Hosokawa, A. Amsterdam, and F. Kotsuji Effects of Ovarian Theca Cells on Apoptosis and Proliferation of Granulosa Cells: Changes During Bovine Follicular Maturation Biol Reprod, June 1, 2002; 66(6): 1635 - 1639. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
