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Pituitary Follistatin Gene Expression in Female Rats: Evidence That Inhibin Regulates Transcription¹

Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, and the Center for Research in Reproduction, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908

Follistatin (FS), along with the members of the transforming growth factor ß family activin and inhibin, are important regulators of FSH secretion and messenger RNA production. While activin and inhibin appear to function as tonic modulators of FSH (stimulatory and inhibitory, respectively), dynamic changes in FS are noted through the estrous cycle and under varying physiological experimental paradigms. This suggests that FS is a major contributor to the precisely coordinated secretion of FSH that maintains reproductive function. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in FS, in particular the early (<12 h) rise observed after ovariectomy (OVX), and to determine whether these changes were as a consequence of variations in gene transcription rates. FS primary transcript (PT) and mRNA were found to increase 3-fold 12 h post-OVX, indicating increased gene transcription during this time period. Replacement with estradiol and/or blockade of GnRH had only modest effects on FS PT concentration. Inhibin immunoneutralization of intact rats resulted in a 3-fold increase in FS PT 12 h after administration of inhibin antisera. Significant increases in FS mRNA at both 2 and 12 h also suggested that inhibin also may have effects on message stability. After administration of recombinant human inhibin A, there was a prompt decline in both FS PT and mRNA. These results indicate that inhibin is a major regulator of FS, both by transcriptional and nontranscriptional mechanisms.

¹ This work was supported by NIH grants HD 11489 and HD 33039 (J.C.M.), by postdoctoral fellowship F32 HD DK42895 (K.A.P.), and by the Core Laboratories of Specialized Collaborative Centers Program for Research in Reproduction Center grant U54 HD 28934.

² Correspondence: Kathleen A. Prendergast, University of Virginia, Department of Medicine, P.O. Box 800612, Charlottesville, VA 22908. FAX: 434 243 6913; kap2k{at}virginia.edu

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