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Biomedical subjects

L Hedin

Publications and source records attributed to L Hedin.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Expression of CCAAT enhancer binding protein-alpha (C/EBP alpha) in the rat ovary: implications for follicular development and ovulation.

The development of follicles from the antral to the preovulatory stage in the mammalian ovary involves both proliferation and differentiation of cells. These processes are coordinated by endocrine, paracrine, and autocrine factors in a time- and cell-specific pattern. Each stage of development is characterized by expression of specific genes the products of which are involved in different cellular processes, e.g., signal transduction (cAMP-dependent protein kinases), steroidogenesis (cytochrome P450 enzymes). At the nuclear level, the signaling pathway from external stimuli converges to modify the mechanisms of transcription factors. One such factor, CCAAT enhancer binding protein-alpha (C/EBPalpha), participates in differentiation processes of several organs, e.g., liver, adipose tissue, and gut. We have previously demonstrated that C/EBPalpha is expressed in rat ovarian follicles in a cell-, time-, and hormone-specific manner. This increase in granulosa cells was concomitant with the more differentiated phenotype. The aim of the present study was to explore the function of C/EBPalpha in the rat ovary. To achieve this, the expression of C/EBPalpha in follicular cells was attenuated in vivo by the local administration of antisense oligonucleotides (AS) into the ovarian bursa, i.e., the sac-like structure surrounding the ovary of immature rats. This administration resulted in an impaired response to subsequent injections of exogenous gonadotropins (PMSG, hCG) with an attenuated expression of C/EBPalpha protein and finally a decreased ovulation rate. Furthermore, the morphology of the AS-treated ovary was altered with large, oocyte-containing follicles at a time when ovaries exposed to sense (S) oligonucleotides demonstrated newly formed corpora lutea. AS also affected the expression of the proto-oncogene c-myc, which was elevated by this treatment. The administration of S was without effects. Thus, C/EBPalpha seems to be a necessary factor for follicular development in the rat ovary.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Role of nitric oxide in induction of inflammatory fluid secretion by the mucosa of the feline gallbladder.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Nitric oxide is synthesized from L-arginine and is metabolized to nitrate and nitrite. This study evaluates the effects of a pharmacological blockade of NO synthesis on fluid transport by the inflamed gallbladder mucosa. METHODS: Experiments were performed in cats with cholecystitis and in control animals. NO synthase activity was measured in gallbladder tissue; the enzyme was characterized by immunoblotting techniques and localized by immunofluorescence. Fluid transport and release of nitrate and nitrite by the gallbladder mucosa and bile and bile salt secretion from the liver were registered simultaneously in vivo. RESULTS: Fluid secretion in inflamed gallbladders was reversed to a net absorption in response to the NO synthase blockers N omega-nitro-L-arginine and aminoguanidine, and formation of nitrate was reduced. The effects were reversed by L-arginine. Increased levels of inducible NO synthase in inflamed gallbladders were shown by immunoblotting, by immunofluorescence (mainly in macrophages), and by Ca(2+)-independent [3H]citrulline formation from [3H]arginine. The NO synthase blockers had no effect on gallbladder fluid transport in normal gallbladders. CONCLUSIONS: Increased levels of inducible NO synthase activity are shown in inflamed gallbladders, and a pharmacological blockade of this enzyme blocks fluid secretion and decreases nitrate release from the mucosa.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1996

Regulation of the inducible form of prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase in the perfused rat ovary.

The regulation of the two isoforms of prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase (PGS-1 and PGS-2) and prostaglandin synthesis by luteinizing hormone (LH)/3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) and progesterone was examined in granulosa cells and residual ovarian tissue of rat ovaries perfused in vitro. The endogenous progesterone synthesis was blocked by an inhibitor of 3 beta-dehydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase, compound A (CA), previously shown to reversibly inhibit ovulation in the in vitro perfused rat ovary. Preovulatory ovaries were perfused for 7 h, and soluble extracts from granulosa cells and residual ovarian tissue were obtained for immunoblotting and determination of the tissue contents of PGS-1/PGS-2. The tissue concentrations of prostaglandins (PGE2, PGF2 alpha and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha) were measured. The ovaries were perfused with medium alone (control) or medium containing LH (0.1 microgram/ml) and IBMX (0.2 mM), LH+IBMX+CA (10 micrograms/ml) or LH+IBMX+CA+progesterone (10 micrograms/ml). PGE2, PGF2 alpha and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha tissue concentrations were increased by LH+IBMX, with highest values detected for PGE2. The addition of CA alone or CA in combination with exogenous progesterone, did not change the values of prostaglandins increased by LH+IBMX. The content of PGS-1 was only marginally changed in both granulosa cells and residual ovarian tissue in the different treatment groups, compared to the control group. In contrast, PGS-2 was markedly increased by LH+IBMX, especially in the granulosa cells. The addition of CA, in combination with LH+IBMX, resulted in a small decrease of PGS-2, and progesterone further decreased its content. In the residual ovarian tissue, only minor changes of PGS-2 were detected. These results demonstrate that LH and progesterone selectively regulate the expression of PGS-2 in rat granulosa cells, whereas the hormonal regulation of PGS-1 is less pronounced. Progesterone inhibits PGS-2 in granulosa cells but has negligible effects on the total ovarian synthesis of prostaglandins during the ovulatory period.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Cell-specific localization of nitric oxide synthases (NOS) in the rat ovary during follicular development, ovulation and luteal formation.

Nitric oxide (NO) has emerged as one of several important intraovarian regulatory factors. In particular, NO has been implicated in the processes of ovulation and atresia-related apoptosis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence and distribution of the NO-generating nitric oxide synthase (NOS) enzymes in the ovary during follicular development, ovulation and luteal formation of the equine chorionic gonadotrophin (ECG)/human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG)-primed rat. NADPH diaphorase activity was used as a histochemical marker for NOS within the ovary. Diaphorase reactivity was most abundant in the stroma (S) of the ovary and in the theca (T) layer of the follicle. In luteinized ovaries, weaker diaphorase reactivity was present within the corpora lutea (CL). Two different isoforms of NOS, the constitutively expressed endothelial NOS (eNOS) and the inducible isoform of NOS (iNOS), were immunolocalized in ovaries of immature rats and in ECG/HCG-primed rats during the periovulatory period from HCG injection until 2 days after ovulation. In addition, ovarian concentrations of eNOS and iNOS were quantified by immunoblotting. Immunoblotting with a monoclonal anti-eNOS antibody demonstrated the presence of eNOS mainly in the residual ovary (ROV) during the periovulatory period. In luteinized ovaries, higher concentrations of eNOS were seen in CL, while those in the ROV at this stage were lower than in the periovulatory ovary. Immature ovaries contained diminutive amounts of eNOS, detectable mostly in the ROV compartment. In contrast, iNOS was barely detectable during follicular development to the preovulatory stage. A slight elevation of iNOS was observed in the granulosa cells at 6 h after the HCG injection. The levels of iNOS during the luteal phase were also low. Immunohistochemical analysis using polyclonal eNOS and iNOS antibodies revealed the localization of these two isoforms primarily in the S and the T of the periovulatory ovary. In luteinized ovaries, positive immunoreactivity was also seen within the CL. With a monoclonal antibody against eNOS, intense immunoreactivity was observed in the S, T and within CL. There was a particularly strong staining in blood vessels. These data demonstrate the presence of an intraovarian NO-generating system. The localization of this system to the S, T and CL suggests a role for NO in the ovulatory process and in the regulation of CL function.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Expression and hormonal regulation of the CCAAT enhancer binding protein-alpha during differentiation of rat ovarian follicles.

Follicular development involves both proliferation and differentiation of thecal and granulosa cells. The process is regulated by gonadotropins and paracrine and autocrine factors, including steroid hormones, presumably by the induction of different genes at specific time points. In the present study, the expression and distribution of the CCAAT enhancer-binding protein-alpha (C/EBP alpha) were studied in immature ovaries and in ovaries in which follicular growth and development were initiated with PMSG, whereas ovulation and luteal formation were induced by the injection of hCG. Ovaries were collected before and at different time points after PMSG (0, 6, 24, and 48 h) and hCG (0.25, 1, 3, 10, and 24 h) treatment for analyses of the contents of C/EBP alpha mRNA and protein and the cell-specific immunohistochemical localization of the protein. C/EBP alpha mRNA increased to maximal levels 24 h after PMSG treatment. The effect was specific for the ovary, as C/EBP alpha mRNA in the uterus did not change. C/EBP alpha mRNA decreased 10 h after hCG treatment and increased again in newly formed corpora lutea. Immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting demonstrated a similar increase in C/EBP alpha during follicular development. To examine the involvement of specific hormones in the regulation of C/EBP alpha, hypophysectomized immature rats were injected sequentially with estradiol and FSH. This treatment resulted in a substantial increase in C/EBP alpha mRNA and protein. These results demonstrate that C/EBP alpha is hormonally regulated in the ovary and suggest a role for C/EBP alpha during differentiation of ovarian cells and follicular development.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Intranasal administration of human growth hormone (hGH) in combination with a membrane permeation enhancer in patients with GH deficiency: a pharmacokinetic study.

Recombinant human GH (hGH) combined with a permeation enhancer for the nasal mucosa, sodium tauro-24,25-dihydrofusidate (STDHF), was administered intranasally (in) in six patients with classical GH deficiency. Three different doses were tested (0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 IU/kg BW). The concentration of STDHF was 1% in all doses. As a comparison, all patients received a sc injection of hGH (0.1 IU/kg BW). Blood samples were obtained at frequent intervals for up to 8 h (in doses) or 24 h (sc dose) and analyzed for the plasma concentration of hGH. All three i.n. doses gave a rapid increase in hGH with peak maxima (Cmax) at 20-30 min, and a decline to baseline within 2-3 h. In contrast, the sc dose resulted in a Cmax 2-3 h after the injection, followed by a plateau phase for 2-3 h. The baseline was reached 12-14 h after administration. The uptake [area under the curve (AUC)] was considerably lower for all three in doses, i.e. 1.6-3% of the AUC obtained with the sc dose. However, the Cmax varied between 5.7 +/- 1.4% (0.8 IU/kg BW) and 15.8 +/- 2.1% (0.4 IU/kg BW) of the maximal peak with the sc dose. Of the in doses, 0.4 IU/kg BW resulted in the highest AUC and Cmax. A self-rating protocol was also used to estimate nasal sensations for up to 2 h after dosing. All sensations (itching, burning, sneezing, and running of the nose) were transient and tolerable. This study demonstrates that hGH can be administered intranasally in combination with STDHF. The in dosing results in a plasma peak of hGH very similar to the physiological endogenous peak. No side-effects were noted, other than a transient nasal irritation. Therefore, the nasal route for hGH administration offers a more physiological and more convenient alternative to injections for the treatment of GH deficiency.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed1992

Lung to blood passage of human growth hormone after intratracheal instillation: stimulation of growth in hypophysectomized rats.

The passage from the lower respiratory tract into the blood of human GH (hGH; M(r) = 22,000) and bovine serum albumin (BSA; M(r) = 67,000) was assessed after intratracheal instillation in adult rats. The plasma level of immunoreactive hGH reached its maximum at 0.5-1 h after instillation and had almost disappeared within 24 h. Higher plasma levels were obtained in male rats than in female rats resulting in a higher total lung passage of hGH in male rats than in female rats (means +/- S.D.; 6.0 +/- 1.7% vs 3.3 +/-1.2%, P<0.01). The plasma level of BSA showed a different pattern, with a maximum at 16-24 h after instillation and a total lung passage of 4.3 +/- 1.7% of the given dose for both sexes. The plasma levels of hGH increased nonlinearly with increasing dose instilled in the dose range 36-720 micrograms/kg body weight. When hGH was instilled daily at a dose of 720 micrograms/kg body weight to hypophysectomized rats for 1 week, they responded with a significant increase in body weight when compared with hypophysectomized control rats (16.8 +/- 4.2 g vs -1.8 +/- 2.4 g, P<0.001). The results demonstrate that, despite their different molecular weights, hGH and BSA pass through the lower respiratory tract into the circulation with similar efficiencies in the rat. However, the lung passage of hGH, unlike that of BSA, showed sexual dependency, an earlier plasma concentration maximum and a tendency of the passage to saturation with increasing dose instilled.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Regulation of prostaglandin biosynthesis by luteinizing hormone and bradykinin in rat preovulatory follicles in vitro.

Luteinizing hormone (LH) stimulates prostaglandin biosynthesis and steroidogenesis in preovulatory (PO) follicles prior to ovulation. Since the ovulatory process shares many similarities with an inflammatory reaction, mediators of the inflammatory response, such as bradykinin (BK) have been suggested to modulate the effects of LH. In the present study the effect of BK (5 microM) on: 1) prostaglandin biosynthesis (PGE2, PGF2 alpha and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha), 2) the levels of two enzymes in the cyclo-oxygenase pathway, prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase (PGS) and prostacyclin synthase (PCS), and 3) cyclic adenosine 3'5'-monophosphate (cAMP) and progesterone response of PO follicles incubated in vitro were examined. LH (0.1 microgram/ml) stimulated the accumulation of cAMP and progesterone in the medium, while BK had no effect on these parameters. BK exerted a slight stimulatory effect on PGE2, and PGF2 alpha, (p less than or equal to 0.01) but not on 6-keto-PGF1 alpha synthesis, but no changes in PGS or PCS levels could be detected. The effect of LH on prostaglandin biosynthesis was much more pronounced, with an increase of PGE2, PGF2 alpha and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha. LH also induced PGS. The combination of LH and BK did not alter these responses compared to that of LH alone. This study demonstrates that BK stimulates prostaglandin biosynthesis in PO follicles. In contrast to LH, this effect of BK does not seem to involve the adenylate cyclase system, since BK did not stimulate cAMP production. BK did not affect the levels of PGS or PCS, and the stimulatory effect of BK is suggested to involve an increase in the availability of substrate for the cyclo-oxygenase pathway.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Stimulatory effects of bradykinin on the ovulatory process in the in vitro-perfused rat ovary.

The role of bradykinin in the ovulatory process was investigated using an in vitro-perfused rat ovary model. Stimulation with LH (0.1 micrograms/ml) resulted in 2.6 +/- 0.5 (mean +/- SEM) ovulations per ovary, whereas no ovulations occurred in the nonstimulated control group. Bradykinin (5 microM) added to the perfusion system hourly for 10 h induced 2 of 5 ovaries to ovulate, with 2 and 3 ovulations, respectively. When bradykinin (5 microM) was given as a single dose at 5 or 10 h after LH, the ovulation rate was significantly increased to 11.0 +/- 2.8 and 8.6 +/- 2.0 ovulations per ovary, respectively. A competitive bradykinin antagonist, phenylalanine bradykinin, inhibited the bradykinin-induced increase in LH-stimulated ovulations. The addition of LH, but not of bradykinin, increased the levels of prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase in granulosa cells, but the levels of the enzyme in the residual ovarian tissue were negligible. In contrast, prostacyclin synthase was predominantly located in the residual ovarian tissue. This enzyme was not affected by LH or bradykinin. LH increased the tissue levels of prostaglandins, predominantly prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), at 7 h, whereas the stimulatory effect of bradykinin was smaller, with a preferential increase in prostacyclin (prostaglandin I2) levels. This study indicates a modulatory role of bradykinin, possibly involving prostacyclin late in the ovulatory process, in the rat.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Regulation of prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase by cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate in the in vitro-perfused rat ovary.

The preovulatory regulation of two enzymes in the prostaglandin biosynthetic pathway, prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase (PGS) and prostacyclin synthase (ISN), was examined in granulosa cells and residual tissue of rat ovaries perfused in vitro. Ovaries from rats primed with pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (20 IU) were perfused for up to 20 h starting the morning of induced proestrus. The amounts of PGS and ISN present were analyzed with immunoblotting techniques. Soluble extracts from granulosa cells and residual ovarian tissues were obtained at different times (0 h, 3 h, 7 h, 12 h) after treatment in vitro with luteinizing hormone (LH, 0.1 microgram/ml) and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX; 0.2 mM) and at 7 h in untreated control ovaries or after treatment with forskolin (30 microM) or LH (0.1 microgram/ml). The levels in the perfusion medium of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP), progesterone, testosterone, and estradiol were measured and the number of ovulations were examined. The levels of PGS after treatment with LH + IBMX increased up to 7 h and remained high at 12 h, a time that is close to the time of ovulation. The increase was more pronounced in the granulosa cells than in the residual tissue. Treatment with forskolin induced synthesis of PGS in granulosa cells, and the levels at 7 h were similar to those after stimulation with LH + IBMX. The levels of PGS were lower in granulosa cells of the group stimulated with LH alone than in granulosa cells from ovaries stimulated with LH + IBMX or forskolin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗
PubMed1988

Molecular aspects of hormone action in ovarian follicular development, ovulation, and luteinization.

As stated earlier, the mammalian ovary maintains the continuous development of follicles, but only a few are selected to ovulate and form corpora lutea. These processes are regulated primarily by the gonadotropins and involve specific, sequential changes in the function of theca cells and granulosa cells. Data from recent studies (summarized in Figure 3) show that specific genes are turned on or off at different stages of follicular growth in response to estradiol and different amounts of gonadotropins and cAMP. For example, mRNA for RII51 in granulosa cells and theca cells increases in association with small increased in cAMP but is markedly reduced by the LH surge and high cAMP. The content of mRNA for other kinase subunits, RI and C alpha, show little or no change during similar hormonal changes. In theca cells, mRNA for 17 alpha-hydroxylase increased and decreased in a manner similar to that for RII51. In contrast, levels of mRNA for P450scc increased only gradually in follicles but were markedly increased by the LH surge and high concentrations of cAMP and then appeared to be constitutively expressed in rat corpora lutea in a cAMP-independent manner. PGS and t-PA appear to follow yet another pattern: rapid induction by the LH surge followed by a rapid decline in association with ovulation. One major task for reproductive endocrinologists and molecular biologists now is to determine how low and high concentrations of cAMP act to turn on and turn off the expression of these specific genes at specific times during follicular maturation. A working model of the molecular events occurring in theca and granulosa cells of PO follicles is shown in Figure 4. LH acts on theca cells via cAMP ro regulate both P450scc and P450(17) alpha mRNA levels, leading to increased biosynthesis of androstenedione. The mechanisms by which cAMP acts in theca cells remain to be determined but appear to involve an increase in the content of RII51, P450scc, and P450(17) alpha. In granulosa cells, androstenedione is converted to estradiol by the aromatase P450 enzyme system. Estradiol, in turn, binds to estradiol receptors present in these cells and may thereby regulate gene expression. However, despite the presence of estradiol and estradiol receptors, little or no effect of estradiol is observed unless FSH acts via the FSH receptor to increase intracellular concentrations of cAMP. In a manner not yet understood, cAMP appears to enhance the actions of estradiol.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Hormonal regulation of the synthesis and mRNA content of the regulatory subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase type II in cultured rat ovarian granulosa cells.

These studies were undertaken to determine the molecular events by which estradiol and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) stimulate in ovarian granulosa cells the increase in the content of one of the regulatory subunits of cAMP-dependent protein kinase type II, RII51 (Mr = 51,000), and its electrophoretic variants RII51.5 (Mr = 51,500) and RII52 (Mr = 52,000). To analyze the de novo synthesis of RII51/52, granulosa cells were cultured (10(6) cells/ml) for 0, 12, 24, or 48 h with estradiol (10 nM) +/- FSH (12.5, 25, and 50 ng/ml), 8-bromo-cAMP (0.25-3 mM), or forskolin (0.5-100 microM) and then pulse-labeled with [35S]methionine (300 microCi/ml; 4 h). Labeled RII51, present either in urea extracts of total cellular protein or after partial purification from a soluble cell extract by cAMP-Sepharose chromatography, was quantitated by autoradiography of two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gels and by excision of the silver-stained spots of the RII51 variants from the gels and counting. Synthesis of RII51 and its electrophoretic variants was low in cells cultured with estradiol alone for 48 h, whereas it was increased 4-5-fold in cells cultured with estradiol and FSH. Changes in the synthesis of actin were minor throughout the culture period regardless of hormone treatment. Pulse-chase experiments using [35S]methionine provided evidence that the isoelectric variants RII51.5 and RII52 may be derived from RII51 by post-translation modification, such as phosphorylation. Labelling with [32P]orthophosphate showed that RII52 contained more radioactivity than RII51.5 and RII51. Northern and filter hybridization assays demonstrated a 6-10-fold dose- and time-dependent increase in the amount of RII51 mRNA in granulosa cells exposed to estradiol and FSH or estradiol and forskolin compared to those cultured with estradiol alone. In vitro translation of poly(A)+ mRNA of granulosa cells from estradiol- and FSH-treated hypophysectomized rats also demonstrated an increase in the content of translatable RII51 mRNA. These studies indicate that in cultured rat granulosa cells the synthesis of RII51 and the content of its mRNA are selectively increased by estradiol and cAMP in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Based on these observations, RII51 appears to be a useful marker to determine the molecular (genomic?) sites of estradiol and FSH action in differentiating rat granulosa cells.

8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate↗
PubMed1987

Changes in content of cytochrome P450(17)alpha, cytochrome P450scc, and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase in developing rat ovarian follicles and corpora lutea: correlation with theca cell steroidogenesis.

The following study was undertaken to determine which hormones (luteinizing hormone, LH, and prolactin, PRL) and enzymes (cytochrome P450(17)alpha, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate [NADPH]-cytochrome P450 reductase, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl [HMG] CoA reductase, cholesterol side-chain cleavage cytochrome P450 [P450scc], and adrenodoxin) were associated with the regulation of androgen biosynthesis by developing rat follicles and corpora lutea in vivo as well as by thecal explants maintained in culture. Immunoblots of soluble cell extracts of small antral (SA), preovulatory (PO), and luteinizing (PO + human chorionic gonadotropin [hCG], 7 h) follicles, newly formed corpora lutea (PO + hCG, 24 h), and corpora luteal isolated on Day 15 of pregnancy, demonstrated that cytochrome P450(17)alpha was low in SA follicles, selectively increased 4-fold in PO follicles, and decreased to less than 10% within 7 h after hCG. Filter hybridization assays using a 32P-labeled cytochrome P450(17)alpha cDNA probe demonstrated that changes in the content of P450(17)alpha mRNA exhibited a pattern similar to that of the enzyme. Conversely, immunoblots for other microsomal enzymes either exhibited no change (NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase) or a transient increase after the hCG surge (HMG CoA reductase), whereas the mitochondrial enzymes either increased markedly in association with luteinization (cytochrome P450scc) or were increased in a more transient manner (adrenodoxin). The LH-induced loss of cytochrome P450(17)alpha in vivo was not associated with loss of androgen biosynthesis when luteinizing theca were placed in culture in medium containing either LH or LH and PRL, suggesting that other hormones, or the presence of other cell types, are required to maintain the decrease in cytochrome P450(17)alpha in vivo. Conversely, the LH-induced increase in cytochrome P450scc in vivo was associated with the maintenance of elevated progesterone production by theca in culture, suggesting that cytochrome P450scc may be constitutively expressed in luteinized theca. Thus, thecal cell cytochrome P450(17)alpha and the regulation of its content and mRNA by LH are pivotal to the biosynthesis of androgens, the obligatory precursors for estradiol biosynthesis and the consequent development of preovulatory follicles. The molecular basis for the different effects of low versus elevated concentrations of LH on cytochrome P450(17)alpha, as well as cytochrome P450scc, remain to be determined.

Animals↗