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Effects of Ovarian Theca Cells on Apoptosis and Proliferation of Granulosa Cells: Changes During Bovine Follicular Maturation¹

^a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fukui Medical University, Fukui 910-1193, Japan ^b Department of Molecular Cell Biology, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel

We have investigated the role of theca cells in the control of apoptosis and proliferation of granulosa cells during bovine ovarian follicular development using a coculture system in which granulosa and theca cells were grown on opposite sides of a collagen membrane. A DNA fluorescence flow cytometry was used to determine the extent of apoptosis and proliferation in populations of granulosa cells. When granulosa cells were isolated from small follicles (3–5 mm), the percentage of apoptotic cells gradually increased by 1.8-fold during the 3 days of culture. This change was reduced (3.1-fold) by the presence of theca cells. When the cells were isolated from large follicles (15–18 mm), the percentage of apoptotic granulosa cells was gradually reduced (3.4-fold) during the 3 days of culture in single-cultured groups. The percentage of apoptosis on Day 1 was reduced (1.6-fold) by the presence of theca cells. However, such an effect was not detected on Days 2 and 3 of the culture. Theca cells did not affect the proliferation of granulosa cells obtained from either small or large follicles. The present study suggests that theca cells regulate the fate of granulosa cells throughout the follicular maturation process by secreting factors that suppress apoptosis.

First decision: 17 October 2001.

¹ Supported by Grants-in-Aid 05557072, 05857172, 06454467, and 10671527 from the Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture of Japan.

² Correspondence: Fumikazu Kotsuji, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fukui Medical University, Matsuoka-Cho, Yoshida-Gun, Fukui 910-1193, Japan. FAX: 81 776 61 8117; kotsujif{at}fmsrsa.fukui-med.ac.jp

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