Ovary

Plasminogen Activator and Serine Protease Inhibitor-E2 (Protease Nexin-1) Expression by Bovine Granulosa Cells In Vitro

Abstract
Remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) occurs during antral follicle growth, and the plasminogen activators (PA) have been implicated in this process in rodents. In the present study, we measured the expression and secretion of PA and the PA inhibitor protease nexin-1 (SERPIN-E2) in antral and basal bovine granulosa cells from small (<6 mm), medium (6-8 mm) and large follicles (>8 mm) during 6 days of culture in serum-free medium. Casein zymography revealed that the cells secreted predominantly tissue-type PA (tPA) with urokinase (uPA) being associated mainly with cell lysates, and Western blot demonstrated that the cells secreted SERPIN-E2. Overall, secreted tPA activity was higher in cultures of cells from small follicles compared to large follicles, and secreted SERPIN-E2 levels were higher in cultures of cells from large follicles. In cultures of cells from small follicles, secreted tPA levels increased with time of culture of antral but not basal cells, and SERPIN-E2 levels increased with time for basal but not antral cells. In cultures of granulosa cells from large follicles, tPA activity increased significantly with time of culture, whereas SERPIN-E2 levels decreased. Cell-associated uPA activity decreased with time in cells from medium and large follicles. RT-PCR and Northern blot showed that SERPIN-E2 secretion was regulated largely at the transcriptional level, whereas tPA secretion was not. The data suggest stage-dependent regulation of granulosa cell PA and SERPIN-E2 production, consistent with a role in ECM remodeling during follicle growth.

Key words: Ovary • Follicle • Granulosa cells

This article has been cited by other articles:

				V. M. Portela, P. B. D. Goncalves, A. M. Veiga, E. Nicola, J. Buratini Jr., and C. A. Price Regulation of Angiotensin Type 2 Receptor in Bovine Granulosa Cells Endocrinology, October 1, 2008; 149(10): 5004 - 5011. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Assidi, I. Dufort, A. Ali, M. Hamel, O. Algriany, S. Dielemann, and M.-A. Sirard Identification of Potential Markers of Oocyte Competence Expressed in Bovine Cumulus Cells Matured with Follicle-Stimulating Hormone and/or Phorbol Myristate Acetate In Vitro Biol Reprod, August 1, 2008; 79(2): 209 - 222. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Zhang, H.-Y. Lin, Q. Yang, H.-X. Wang, K. X. Chai, L.-M. Chen, and C. Zhu Expression of Prostasin Serine Protease and Protease Nexin-1 (PN-1) in Rhesus Monkey Ovary During Menstrual Cycle and Early Pregnancy J. Histochem. Cytochem., December 1, 2007; 55(12): 1237 - 1244. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Cao, J. Buratini Jr, J. G Lussier, P. D Carriere, and C. A Price Expression of protease nexin-1 and plasminogen activators during follicular growth and the periovulatory period in cattle Reproduction, January 1, 2006; 131(1): 125 - 137. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]