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8 May 2013 Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 Supports the Initial Differentiation of Hen ( Gallus gallus) Granulosa Cells
Dongwon Kim, Olga Ocón-Grove, A.L. Johnson
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Abstract

In the hen ovary, selection of a follicle into the preovulatory hierarchy occurs from a small cohort of prehierarchal (6–8 mm) follicles. Prior to follicle selection the granulosa layer remains in an undifferentiated state despite elevated follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) expression. The present studies describe a role for bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) in supporting FSHR mRNA expression in granulosa cells from prehierarchal follicles and promoting differentiation at follicle selection. Culture of undifferentiated granulosa cells in culture medium alone resulted in a significant decline in levels of FSHR mRNA (by ∼80% compared to freshly collected cells). By comparison, granulosa cultured with BMP4 (10–100 ng/ml) maintained FSHR and expression at approximately in vivo levels. Because both granulosa and theca tissues from prehierarchal follicles express BMP4, it is suggested that BMP4 acts in a paracrine and/or autocrine fashion to support elevated FSHR expression prior to follicle selection. Granulosa cells cultured with BMP4 for 24 h also initiated FSH-induced cAMP production and indirectly initiated anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), CYP11A, and STAR expression plus progesterone production. However, pretreatment with the BMP antagonist NOGGIN or the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) agonist transforming growth factor alpha attenuated or blocked each action promoted by BMP4. We conclude that prior to and immediately after selection, BMP4 serves to support FSHR expression within the granulosa layer, yet prior to selection, multiple factors (including inhibitory MAPK signaling, AMH, and BMP antagonists) can modulate FSHR expression and suppress FSH-mediated cell signaling to prevent granulosa cell differentiation prior to follicle selection.

Dongwon Kim, Olga Ocón-Grove, and A.L. Johnson "Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 Supports the Initial Differentiation of Hen ( Gallus gallus) Granulosa Cells," Biology of Reproduction 88(6), (8 May 2013). https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod.113.109694
Received: 29 March 2013; Accepted: 1 April 2013; Published: 8 May 2013
KEYWORDS
bone morphogenetic protein 4
cAMP
cyclic adenosine monophosphate
CYP11A
differentiation
follicle
follicle-stimulating hormone
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