AJP - Cell Physiology, Vol 253, Issue 5 C625-C632, Copyright © 1987 by American Physiological Society
Adhesion and differentiation of cultured rat granulosa cells: role of fibronectin
P. Morley, D. T. Armstrong and R. E. Gore-Langton
Medical Research Council Group in Reproductive Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
Because fibronectin is a major secretion product of rat granulosa cells in
culture, we have investigated 1) the involvement of endogenous fibronectin
in granulosa cell attachment, and 2) the consequences of inhibition of this
attachment on follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)-dependent differentiated
responses. Attachment was significantly inhibited for up to 8 h in a
concentration-dependent manner by antiserum to rat fibronectin, but not by
nonimmune serum. Adsorption of antiserum on fibronectin or addition of
exogenous fibronectin eliminated this inhibitory activity. Treatment with
antiserum did not significantly alter the FSH-dependent production of
adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate over 2 h or progestins over 48 h,
while conversion of testosterone to 17 beta-estradiol over 48 h was
suppressed by 60% in the presence of antiserum, regardless of antiserum
adsorption on fibronectin. Results indicate that endogenous fibronectin is
involved in substratum attachment of rat granulosa cells, but that
attachment is not a requisite for FSH responsiveness.
