Activin and Follistatin as Local Regulators in the Human Ovary

Peng, Chun; Ohno, Tsukasa; Khorasheh, Shideh; Leung, Peter C.K.

doi:10.1159/000109177

Cited by 19 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…The activin-A protein was previously demonstrated in rat (Ogawa et al, 1991) and human (Rabinovici et al, 1992;Wada et al, 1996) corpora lutea. The mRNA of activin receptor type II was detected in rat (Cameron et al, 1994) and human (Peng et al, 1996) luteal tissue. In the current study with pregnant pigs, we also found activin gene expression, activin protein, and activin receptor type II in corpora lutea and, moreover, in the ovarian surface epithelium.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Localization of an activin/activin receptor system in the porcine ovary

Hurk

Pavert

2001

Molecular Reproduction Devel

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The aim of this study was to locate a possible activin/activin receptor system within porcine ovaries containing functional corpora lutea. In situ hybridization was used to assess the gene expression of beta(A)- and beta(B)-activin subunits, and immunohistochemical studies were done to detect activin-A protein and activin receptor type II. mRNA expression of the beta(A)- and beta(B)-activin subunits was found in the granulosa from the unilaminar follicle stage onward, in the developing thecal layer of multilaminar and small antral follicles, in the theca interna of mid-sized antral follicles, in corpora lutea, and in the ovarian surface epithelium. Immunoreactive activin A protein could be detected at the same ovarian sites, but in thecal tissue of small antral follicles only. This protein was also demonstrated at the peripheral zone of oocytes from multilaminar and antral follicles. A positive immunoreaction for activin receptor was found in granulosa cells from multilaminar and older follicles and in oocytes from the earliest stages of follicular development onward. In late multilaminar follicles and in antral follicles, the oolemma was stained. Except for small antral follicles, a positive activin receptor immunoreaction was absent in the follicular theca. Activin receptor immunoreaction was furthermore present in corpora lutea and in the ovarian surface epithelium. It is concluded that, within porcine ovaries containing functional corpora lutea, an activin/activin receptor system is present in all intact follicles, the corpora lutea and the surface epithelium. Within follicles, granulosa and theca cells are the main sites of activin synthesis, while oocytes and granulosa cells are the main activin binding sites.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Localization of an activin/activin receptor system in the porcine ovary

Hurk

Pavert

2001

Molecular Reproduction Devel

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“…Both inhibin and activin have been reported to modulate steroidogenesis, including progesterone production, in mammals [5,59,60]. It is possible that activin A and inhibin A may stimulate MIH production, which in turn, induces oocyte maturation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Activin, Inhibin, and Follistatin in Zebrafish Ovary: Expression and Role in Oocyte Maturation1

Patel

Mukai

et al. 2000

Biology of Reproduction

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Activins, inhibins, and follistatins are important regulators of mammalian reproduction. However, their roles in lower vertebrates are poorly understood. In this study, we examined the expression of activin A, inhibin A, and follistatins in the zebrafish ovary and determined their role in final oocyte maturation. Using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction with primers specific for activin/inhibin beta(A) subunit and for follistatins, we detected DNA fragments of the expected size, which, upon sequencing, conformed to activin/inhibin beta(A) and follistatin. Western blot analysis using an antibody against activin/inhibin beta(A) subunit revealed two bands with sizes similar to those of activin A and inhibin A. The expression of follistatins was also confirmed by Western blot analysis. These results suggest that activin A, an inhibin A-like molecule, and follistatins are expressed in the zebrafish ovary. In cultured zebrafish follicles, activin A and inhibin A both induced final oocyte maturation in a dose-dependent manner. The effects of activin A and inhibin A were blocked by their binding protein, follistatin-288. Interestingly, follistatin-288 also inhibited final oocyte maturation induced by gonadotropin and by maturation-inducing hormone (MIH), suggesting that activin A and/or inhibin A may be local regulators mediating gonadotropin- and MIH-induced final oocyte maturation. Taken together, these findings suggest that activin A and inhibin A are paracrine regulators of ovarian functions in fish.

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“…FST exerts its effect via enhancement of estradiol production in addition to neutralizing the effect of activin on steroid production [25]. …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alteration in follistatin gene expression detected in prenatally androgenized rats

Jahromi

Tehrani

Hill

et al. 2017

Gynecological Endocrinology

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Impaired ovarian follicle development, the hallmark of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), is believed to be due to the changes in expression of related genes such as follistatin (FST). Expression of FST gene and methylation level of its promoter in theca cells from adult female rats, prenatally exposed to androgen excess, during different phases of the estrus cycle was determined and compared with controls. Eight pregnant Wistar rats (experimental group) were treated by subcutaneous injection of 5 mg free testosterone on day 20 of pregnancy, while controls (n = 8) received 500 ml solvent. Based on observed vaginal smear, adult female offspring of mothers were divided into three groups. Levels of serum steroidogenic sexual hormones and gonadotropins, expression and promoter methylation of the FST gene were measured using ELISA, cyber-green real-time PCR and bisulfite sequence PCR (BSP), respectively. Compared to controls, the relative expression of FST gene in the treated group decreased overall by 0.85 fold; despite significant changes in different phases, but no significant differences in methylation of FST promoter. Our results reveal that manifestation of PCOS-like phenotype following prenatal exposure to excess androgen is associated with irregularity in expression of the FST gene during the estrus cycle.

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Activin and Follistatin as Local Regulators in the Human Ovary

Cited by 19 publications

References 43 publications

Localization of an activin/activin receptor system in the porcine ovary

Localization of an activin/activin receptor system in the porcine ovary

Activin, Inhibin, and Follistatin in Zebrafish Ovary: Expression and Role in Oocyte Maturation1

Alteration in follistatin gene expression detected in prenatally androgenized rats

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