RGD-mediated adhesion of porcine granulosa cells modulates their differentiation response to FSH in vitro.

Porcine granulosa cells cultured in serum-free medium undergo metabolic and morphologic changes after follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) stimulation. Under these conditions, granulosa cells differentiate and tend to round up and their links with the plastic support are reduced. Coating of culture substratum with PepTite-2000, an integrin-binding synthetic peptide containing RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) sequences enhanced the plating of granulosa cells. Whether the peptide be present or not, cells cultivated in basal synthetic medium (without FSH) were flattened and attached to the substratum by stress fibers at focal contacts where integrin beta 1, extracellular fibronectin, and urokinase plasminogen activator colocalized. After FSH stimulation, part of the cells rounded up and F-actin took a more uniform, cortical localization. Correlatively, extracellular fibronectin aggregated in a clump, while integrin beta 1 and urokinase plasminogen activator spread over rounded cells. These morphological changes elicited by FSH were little affected by the presence of PepTite-2000, yet a larger number of cells remained flattened. However, concerning steroidogenesis, increasing concentrations of peptide seemed to favor progesterone rather than estrogen production, and to restrain luteinizing hormone (LH) receptor expression, suggesting a premature commitment of cells towards luteinization rather than completion of follicular preovulatory differentiation.