Follicle-stimulating hormone: effects and possible mechanism of action in rabbit ovarian cells

Abstract

The aim of our experiment was to examine the role of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in the control of rabbit ovarian functions (proliferation, apoptosis) and in the regulation of transcription factor CREB expression. Rabbit ovarian granulosa cells were cultured in the presence of FSH (0, 1, 10 and 100 ng/ml of medium). Expression of intracellular peptides 0, 1, 10 and 100 ng/ml of medium). Expression of intracellular peptides �� markers of proliferation markers of proliferation (cyclin B1) and apoptosis (caspase-3, TdT) as well as the expression of CREB-1 in the cells were detected using immunocytochemistry, TUNEL and SDS PAGE- Western immunoblotting. It was observed, that FSH stimulates accumulation of cyclin B1, reduces caspase-3 and TdT and increases CREB-1 accumulation in rabbit ovarian cells. Our observations suggest, that FSH activates proliferation and inhibits apoptosis in rabbit ovarian cells, and that these effects can be mediated via cAMP/protein kinase A/CREB- or MAP kinase/CREB-dependent intracellular mechanisms.