R. Behl et Rs. Pandey, Effect of epidermal growth factor on steroidogenesis by caprine granulosa cells in culture: interaction with FSH, SMALL RUMIN, 40(1), 2001, pp. 57-62
Besides gonadotrophins various peptide growth factors have been implicated
in the ovarian folliculogenesis. In this study, the effect of epidermal gro
wth factor (EGF) (0, 0.1, 1.0, 10 ng/ml culture medium) on steroidogenesis
by caprine granulosa cells at various stages of maturation was investigated
using serum free culture medium. Caprine granulosa cells were obtained fro
m ovarian follicles and classified into three classes: small (<3 mm), mediu
m (3-6 mm) and large (>6 mm in diameter). EGF (10 ng/m culture medium) alon
e reduced estradiol secretion in granulosa cell from small, medium and larg
e follicles by 62, 48 and 29%, respectively, as compared with control. This
inhibition was 50, 36 and 21%, respectively, when EGF (10 ng/ml culture me
dium) was applied in combination with FSH (100 ng/ml culture medium). EGF a
lone stimulated the secretion of progesterone in granulosa cells from all t
he three categories of follicles only at highest dose tested (10 ng/ml cult
ure medium). FSH acted synergistically with EGF in stimulating progesterone
secretion by cultured granulosa cells. EGF in combination with FSH (100 ng
/ml culture medium) significantly (P <0.05) stimulated progesterone secreti
on by cultured granulosa cells from all three categories of follicles even
at the lowest dose (0.1 ng/ml culture medium) tested. In conclusion, EGF si
gnificantly influences the steroidogenesis by caprine granulosa cells in vi
tro and may play important role in the follicular growth and maturation. (C
) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.