Endocrinology, Vol 125, 1266-1276, Copyright © 1989 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Ovarian germinal epithelial cells respond to basic fibroblast growth factor and express its gene: implications for early folliculogenesis

D Gospodarowicz, J Plouet and DK Fujii
University of California, Cancer Research Institute, San Francisco 94143.

Cultured bovine ovarian germinal epithelial (OGE) cells respond to fibroblast growth factor (FGF) with an increased rate of proliferation. The basic form of FGF (bFGF) had an ED50 of 110 pg/ml, while the acidic form had an ED50 of 3.5 ng/ml. The mitogenic effect of FGF was blocked by transforming growth factor-beta. OGE cells express the gene encoding bFGF. The bFGF gene is transcribed into 7.0- and 3.7-kilobase mRNA transcripts, which are translated into 18,600 mol wt bFGF-like growth factor. OGE-derived bFGF is bioactive and stimulates the proliferation of capillary endothelial cells or OGE cells. This mitogenic effect is prevented by specific neutralizing anti-bFGF antibodies. Our results indicate that bFGF derived from OGE cells can act as both autocrine and paracrine growth factor for that cell type, and they further suggest that the factor may be involved in the development of early follicles.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. E. Drummond, M. Tellbach, M. Dyson, and J. K. Findlay Fibroblast Growth Factor-9, a Local Regulator of Ovarian Function Endocrinology, August 1, 2007; 148(8): 3711 - 3721. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. K. Skinner Regulation of primordial follicle assembly and development Hum. Reprod. Update, September 1, 2005; 11(5): 461 - 471. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Nilsson and M. K. Skinner Cellular Interactions That Control Primordial Follicle Development and Folliculogenesis Reproductive Sciences, January 1, 2001; 8(1_suppl): S17 - S20. [Abstract] [PDF]

				N. H. Machell, O. W. Blaschuk, and R. Farookhi Developmental Expression and Distribution of N- and E-Cadherin in the Rat Ovary Biol Reprod, September 1, 2000; 63(3): 797 - 804. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				P. Hardy, I. Dumont, M. Bhattacharya, X. Hou, P. Lachapelle, D. R. Varma, and S. Chemtob Oxidants, nitric oxide and prostanoids in the developing ocular vasculature: a basis for ischemic retinopathy Cardiovasc Res, August 18, 2000; 47(3): 489 - 509. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. D. Roberts and R. C.L. Ellis Mitogenic Effects of Fibroblast Growth Factors on Chicken Granulosa and Theca Cells In Vitro Biol Reprod, December 1, 1999; 61(6): 1387 - 1392. [Abstract] [Full Text]