USES OF PLASMID TECHNOLOGIES .1. THE ROLE OF ESTROGEN IN FOLLICULAR DEVELOPMENT

Most of our knowledge of ovarian physiology is based upon studies that have demonstrated functional oestrogen receptors in the ovaries of lo wer animal species. The presence of oestrogen receptors in primate gra nulosa cells has been questioned by some investigators. However, we ha ve found oestrogen receptor messenger RNA in human granulosa cells by reverse transcriptase-PCR assay. Furthermore, using immortalized granu losa cell lines transfected with a plasmid containing an oestrogen res ponse element, a functional oestrogen receptor was confirmed. These ex periments strongly support the hypothesis that human granulosa cells e xpress biologically active oestrogen receptor.