The effect of plating density on granulosa cell growth and differentiation in vitro

Isolation of granulosa-like cells from the bovine secretory corpus luteum and their characterization in long-term culture

BACKGROUND

The isolation of cells termed type 5 from the bovine corpus luteum was recently reported. Since these cells were reminiscent of immature granulosa cells, their morphological and functional relationship requires further investigation in view of the novel concept of corpus luteum growth. It suggests that putative stem cells of unknown origin supply the pool of small luteal cells.

METHODS

Bovine corpora lutea were mechanically dispersed, cell suspensions separated over a Percoll density gradient, and type 5 cells purified by colony transfer. Granulosa cells were harvested from small-sized antral follicles. Observations were carried out at the light and electron microscopical level. 3 beta-Hydroxy-steroid-dehydrogenase was localized histochemically in addition to intracellular lipid droplets stained with nile red. Immunolocalization was used to study Factor VIII antigen presence, the architecture of the cytoskeleton, as well as the occurrence of neuronal cell adhesion molecules, and of neuronal cadherin-like molecules. The uptake of acetylated low density lipoprotein was examined. As for progesterone concentration, cells were seeded at low density on day zero. Cell numbers and progesterone levels of supernatants were determined on day 10 in culture.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Type 5 cells behaved morphologically like immature granulosa cells, yet the total cell number and the progesterone concentration differed for type 5 cells compared to granulosa cells. The addition of LH had no influence on the progesterone concentration as seen for either type 5 cells or for granulosa cells. It is concluded that type 5 cells, which were originally mistaken for microvascular endothelial cells, display similarities with immature granulosa cells. Type 5 cells may play a role in renewal of luteal cells.

Culture of bovine granulosa cells in a chemically defined serum-free medium: the effect of insulin and fibronectin on the response to FSH

Granulosa cells from fully differentiated bovine follicles were cultured in serum-free medium for 4 days. At the end of culture, the number of viable cells was low (10-15% of cells plated on day one) and only progesterone secretion responded to FSH. Insulin increased the number of viable cells at the end of culture (ED50 # 70 ng/ml) and stimulated progesterone secretion (ED50 # 50 ng/ml); the secretion of oestradiol-17 beta over basal value was evident only for concentrations of 1000 and 10,000 ng/ml. FSH acted synergistically with insulin to modify steroid secretion. In the presence of 50 ng/ml of insulin, dose-response studies indicated that secretion of progesterone was maximal at 10 ng/ml of FSH and plateaud thereafter, while oestradiol output peaked at 2 ng/ml of FSH, decreasing at higher concentrations. When cells were seeded in wells precoated with fibronectin, a comparison with cells cultured on plastic showed an increase (30-40%) in the number of viable cells at the end of culture and in oestradiol secretion but a decrease in progesterone output. These results indicate that granulosa cells from large bovine follicles, cultured in a serum-free medium containing insulin, maintain their steroidogenic potency for at least 4 days. Moreover, they show that oestradiol and progesterone synthesis are differentially sensitive to FSH concentrations and that fibronectin increases oestradiol secretion in response to FSH.

Catecholestrogens inhibit proliferation and DNA synthesis of porcine granulosa cells in vitro: comparison with estradiol, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, gonadotropins and catecholamines

Studies were conducted to assess the role of catecholestrogens on ovarian follicular growth using cultured porcine granulosa cells. Effects of the catecholestrogens, 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OH-E2) and 2-methoxyestradiol (2-MeO-E2) were compared to those of estradiol (E2). Treatment with saturating concentrations of 2-OH-E2 caused a significantly greater decrease in cell numbers measured after 2 days of treatment than E2 treatment. The inhibitory effect of 2-OH-E2 was time and concentration dependent, not associated with a change in the viability of cells, and was partially reversible. The potency of 2-MeO-E2 to inhibit cell numbers was similar to or greater than that of 2-OH-E2. 2-MeO-E2 had a greater inhibitory effect on DNA synthesis, as measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation into trichloroacetic acid-precipitable macromolecules, than 2-OH-E2 or E2 in the absence or presence of insulin, epidermal growth factor or platelet-derived growth factor. Concurrent treatment with epinephrine significantly enhanced the inhibitory effect of 2-OH-E2 on granulosa cell DNA synthesis. Collectively, these studies indicate that catecholestrogens are more potent inhibitors of granulosa cell replication than E2 and 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and that catecholamines may modulate the antimitotic activity of 2-OH-E2. These results support the hypothesis that catecholestrogens play a role in proliferation of granulosa cells during growth of ovarian follicles.

Thyroglobulin gene expression as a differentiation marker in primary cultures of calf thyroid cells

A system of calf thyroid follicular cells in primary cultures has been developed to investigate the control of thyroglobulin gene expression in normal cells in vitro. In low (0.1%) serum conditions, the cells remained quiescent and formed dense aggregates surrounded by slowly spreading cells. High expression of thyroid-specific differentiation markers such as thyroglobulin (Tg) mRNA accumulation and iodide transport required the continuous exposure of cells to thyrotropin (TSH) or other adenylate cyclase activators (cholera toxin and forskolin). In the absence of TSH, Tg mRNA decreased to low but still detectable levels. Addition of TSH, forskolin or cholera toxin restored high Tg gene expression. Hydrocortisone moderately stimulated basal Tg mRNA accumulation and strongly potentiated the effect of TSH. Growth promoters including serum (1-10%), epidermal growth factor (EGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) induced calf thyroid cells to develop as a monolayer and inhibited both basal and TSH-stimulated expression of specialized functions. Moreover, only a partial restoration of this expression was achieved after addition of TSH or forskolin to well spread-out cells that had proliferated in response to EGF or serum. The results show that in calf thyroid cells, iodide transport and Tg gene expression are regulated by TSH through cyclic AMP; hydrocortisone potentiates this effect on Tg gene expression, while all growth promoting factors inhibit the expression of these differentiated functions.

Metabolism of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene by different types of cells in the human ovary

1. The metabolism of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) by primary cultures of human ovarian cells has been studied to identify the cell type(s) responsible for biotransformation of this carcinogen. The rate of DMBA metabolism was maximal in granulosa cells prestimulated in vivo with antiestrogen, hMG (human menopausal gonadotropin) and hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), i.e., treatments required for maximal oocyte maturation and, thus, granulosa cell proliferation. In cells from unstimulated ovaries, the metabolism was maximal in granulosa-lutein cells isolated from corpus luteum. 2. Steroid (progesterone and estradiol) levels were determined in the spent culture media or in media in parallel with DMBA metabolism to find out whether elevated steroid levels in vivo are required for the rapid metabolism of DMBA. In granulosa cell cultures from stimulated cycles, the concentrations of both progesterone and estradiol were at least 2 or 3 times higher, respectively, than in any of the other cell types tested. In cell cultures derived from unstimulated ovaries, the progesterone and estradiol concentrations were highest in granulosa-lutein cell cultures. 3. Incubations of granulosa cells with DMBA in the absence or presence of gonadotropins, testosterone or anti--hCG were performed to investigate possible hormonal requirements for the cytochrome P-450 system(s) which metabolize DMBA. No change in the rate of metabolism was obtained with follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), hCG or testosterone. However, anti-hCG increased this activity about 70%, indicating a negative modulatory role of hCG on DMBA mono-oxygenase activity in human granulosa cells. 4. DMBA mono-oxygenase activity in cell cultures was inhibited about 95% by alpha-naphthoflavone (ANF), an inhibitor of certain cytochrome P-450-catalysed activities. Benzo(a)pyrene (BP) was metabolized at the same rate as DMBA in granulosa cell cultures.

Cell density influences hormonal responsiveness but not lipoprotein utilization in cultured bovine luteal cells

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of cell density on hormonal responsiveness and lipoprotein utilization by cultured bovine luteal cells. Luteal cells obtained from regularly cycling dairy cows were plated at three culture densities: 0.5 X 10(6), 1 X 10(6) and 2 X 10(6) cells/flask in serum-free Ham's F-12 culture medium, and maintained for 9 days. Basal steroidogenesis was unaffected by cell density, while LH responsiveness was greatest in low density cultures. Progesterone produced in response to LH (10 ng/ml) was greater than control levels throughout the culture period in low density cultures. Luteal cells cultured at medium and high densities became responsive to LH only later in the culture period (days 5 and 9, respectively). In contrast, prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha, 100 ng/ml) was more effective in high density cultures, causing a complete inhibition of LH stimulation and returning progesterone levels to basal values. In low density cultures, treatment with PGF2 alpha + LH resulted in progesterone levels that were not significantly different from LH-treated cultures. There was no effect of cell density on utilization of either low density lipoprotein (LDL) or high density lipoprotein (HDL) for steroidogenesis. However, a synergistic effect of LH with either lipoprotein was observed in low and medium density, but not high density cultures. From these results, it is concluded that culture density can influence the responsiveness of bovine luteal cells to either LH or PGF2 alpha, but has no effect on lipoprotein utilization by these cells.

Influence of in vitro plating density on rat granulosa cell responsiveness to follicle-stimulating hormone

The effects of cell plating density on granulosa cell sensitivity to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were investigated, using a serum-free culture of cells obtained from immature, estrogen-treated rats. The cells were incubated at densities of 0.25 to 5 X 10(5) cells/dish with increasing concentrations of FSH for 2 days, and medium estrogen and progestin accumulation were measured by radioimmunoassay. Per-cell estrogen and progestin production rose with increasing FSH concentration and cell density up to 2 X 10(5) cells/dish. At a higher density (5 X 10(5)/dish), per-cell estrogen production fell; progestin production remained constant, although the major progestin produced was no longer progesterone, but rather its metabolite, 20 alpha-hydroxy-progesterone. The effects of changing cell density could not be accounted for by medium steroids or cytotoxic substances. It is concluded that in vitro plating density can markedly affect granulosa cell sensitivity to FSH. In vivo, changing intrafollicular cell densities may thus affect the ability of the whole cell complement to respond to gonadotropin.

Luteinizing hormone receptor induction in dispersed granulosa cells requires estrogen

Studies on granulosa cell responses in vitro have routinely utilized cell preparations in which intercellular gap-junctions are maintained. The present study was conducted to determine if disruption of these junctions, prior to culture, would affect subsequent follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)-stimulated luteinizing hormone (LH) receptor induction on these cells. Granulosa cells were expressed from ovaries of diethylstilbestrol (DES)-primed immature rats after a short incubation of the excised ovaries in culture medium alone or medium containing 6.8 mM EGTA. The latter procedure disrupts gap-junctions between granulosa cells thus providing a predominantly mono-dispersed cell suspension. The two cell preparations were cultured, separately, for 72 h in sterile polypropylene tubes in media containing either FSH or FSH plus various steroids (estradiol, testosterone, or 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT)). LH receptor content of cells was determined at 72 h of culture. Both the cell yield and the proportion of viable cells obtained were enhanced by the EGTA pretreatment. LH receptors were induced in all FSH-containing cultures of non-dispersed granulosa cells. In the dispersed cell cultures, FSH alone failed to induce LH receptors. The inclusion of either estradiol or testosterone but not DHT with FSH, however, restored LH receptor induction to levels comparable to non-dispersed cultures. LH receptors were not induced in cultures of either cell preparation with steroids alone. Aromatase activity, however, was stimulated in both cell preparations by FSH alone. These results suggest that cell-cell communication may be necessary for LH receptor induction in granulosa cells and that estradiol (or an aromatizable androgen) can promote intercellular interactions if this communication has been disrupted.

Influence of various growth factors and conditions on development of resting membrane potential and its electrogenic pump component of cultured rat skeletal myotubes

The effects of different growth factors and growth conditions were studied on the development of resting membrane potential and its electrogenic--ouabain-sensitive--pump component in cultured rat myotubes. Resting potential and its electrogenic pump component were dependent on the initial plating density of the myotubes, both values increasing with increasing density. Medium from cells plated at high density, when used to replace the medium of low density cells, increased both the resting potential and its electrogenic pump component of low density myotubes. Treatment of myotubes with cytosine-arabinoside delayed the appearance of [3H]ouabain binding sites and electrogenic pump component of resting potential, but by 8 days in culture there was no difference between treated and control cells. Similarly, cells plated initially in 5% horse serum developed resting potential and its electrogenic pump component more slowly than those in 15% horse serum, but by 8-10 days in vitro, the differences were no longer apparent. Chick embryo extract was found to have little, if any, influence on development of resting potential and its electrogenic pump component. We conclude that the different growth conditions and factors to the extent that they influence membrane potential, do so by altering the time of appearance of Na-K ATPase, the activity of which contributes a considerable component to resting potential.

Expression of glucagon sensitivity by transformed MDCK cells normally unresponsive to glucagon: early commitment to differentiation

A cloned line of canine kidney cells (MDCK) transformed with Harvey murine sarcoma virus, in contrast to the parental, untransformed line, expressed glucagon sensitivity only under controlled culture conditions. The glucagon sensitivity of transformed MDCK cells appeared after 10 days of culture if plated at less than 100,000 cells/dish or after 3 days if cells were plated at greater than 300,000 cells/dish. As there was no effect of conditioned medium from glucagon-sensitive cells on insensitive cells, media components seemed not to be involved in this phenomenon. Glucagon sensitivity appeared more readily in defined as opposed to serum-containing medium. In fact, as little as 2% fetal bovine serum inhibited the expression of glucagon sensitivity when included in defined medium over the course of the experiment. Furthermore, when transformed MDCK cells were exposed to serum for only the first 24 hr of culture, glucagon sensitivity on day 11 was identical to that of cells exposed to serum throughout the entire experiment. In contrast, exposure to serum later in culture (days 4-8) had no inhibitory effect on the expression of glucagon sensitivity on day 11. The data suggest that differentiation, or glucagon sensitivity, occurs when transformed, glucagon-insensitive cells achieve a critical high density and that differentiation is sensitive to inhibition by serum only during the first 24 hr of culture.