Although the gonadotropins are necessary for follicular development, the spatio-temporal specific differentiation of the constituent granulosa cells and the process of selection for ovulation may be regulated by other intrafollicular mechanisms. Gap junction-mediated intercellular communication between granulosa cells has been previously reported and may play a role in spatio-temporal differentiation and/or follicular selection. In order to elucidate the function of intercellular communication in follicular development, granulosa cell cultures were treated with agents known to disrupt gap junctions (uncouplers): the retinoids and the alkanols. Retinoic acid, heptanol annd octanol inhibited the expression of luteinizing hormone (LH) receptors and the accumulation of progesterone in the culture. The expression of LH receptors and the production of progesterone are crucial follicular functions. Thus, the inhibition of these functions by uncouplers provides the first evidence that the establishment of gap junctional communication may be an integral component in follicular development.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.60550 |
| Date | January 1991 |
| Creators | Lee, Ben |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Master of Science (Department of Physiology.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001243233, proquestno: AAIMM72136, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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