IMMUNODETECTION AND QUANTIFICATION OF ENZYMATIC MARKERS IN THECA CELLS: THE EARLY PROCESS OF OVARIAN STEROIDOGENESIS.

IMMUNODETECTION AND QUANTIFICATION OF ENZYMATIC MARKERS IN THECA CELLS: THE EARLY PROCESS OF OVARIAN STEROIDOGENESIS.

Asiabi, P;Leonel, E C R;Marbaix, E;Dolmans, M M;Amorim, C A;
biology of reproduction 2019
190
asiabi2019immunodetectionbiology

Abstract

The association between theca cells (TCs) and granulosa cells is pivotal to steroid biosynthesis in the ovary. During the late secondary follicle stage, TCs form a layer around granulosa cells, after which their steroidogenic function falls under the control of luteinizing hormone (LH) that activates the cAMP signaling pathway via a G protein-coupled receptor. In addition to perilipin-2, a marker for lipid droplets containing esters as substrates for TCs to produce steroidogenic hormones, other essential proteins, like steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), cytochrome P450 11A1, cytochrome P450c17, 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/delta 5- > 4-isomerase type 1, and 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/delta 5- > 4-isomerase type 2, play a role in the cascade after luteinizing hormone-choriogonadotropic hormone receptor (LH/CG-R) occupation by LH. The aim of the present study was to assess expression levels and corresponding amounts of LH/CG-R, perilipin-2 and enzymes involved in the steroidogenic pathway of TCs based on follicle stage. Immunohistochemical analysis of each of these proteins was therefore performed on ovarian samples from nine adult women, most (n = 8) with BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 mutations undergoing prophylactic bilateral oophorectomy. Pictures were taken of the theca layer of secondary, small (<3000 μm) and large (>3000 μm) antral follicles and corpora lutea at 100X magnification. ImageJ software was used to analyze the surface area and expression intensity of each protein at each stage, known as the staining index. Overall, our data showed that LH/CG-R, perilipin-2 and StAR expression increased in the course of folliculogenesis and luteinization. Similarly, cytochrome P450 11A1, cytochrome P450c17, 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/delta 5- > 4-isomerase type 1, and 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/delta 5- > 4-isomerase type 2 expression were substantially elevated in TCs during folliculogenesis, evidenced by their coordinated action in terms of area covered and expression intensity. This study, conducted for the first time on human ovarian tissue, contributes to localizing and quantifying expression of key steroidogenic proteins at both intracellular and tissue levels. These findings may shed new light on pathological conditions involving the human ovary, such as androgen-secreting tumors of the ovary and other disorders associated with ovarian TCs in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Access

Citation

ID: 49831
Ref Key: asiabi2019immunodetectionbiology
Use this key to autocite in SciMatic or Thesis Manager

References

Blockchain Verification

Account:
NFT Contract Address:
0x95644003c57E6F55A65596E3D9Eac6813e3566dA
Article ID:
49831
Unique Identifier:
ioz167
Network:
Scimatic Chain (ID: 481)
Loading...
Blockchain Readiness Checklist
Authors
Abstract
Journal Name
Year
Title
5/5
Creates 1,000,000 NFT tokens for this article
Token Features:
  • ERC-1155 Standard NFT
  • 1 Million Supply per Article
  • Transferable via MetaMask
  • Permanent Blockchain Record
Blockchain QR Code
Scan with Saymatik Web3.0 Wallet

Saymatik Web3.0 Wallet