Cell shape change reveals the cyclic AMP-mediated action of follicle stimulating hormone, human chorionic gonadotrophin and vasoactive intestinal peptide in primary cultured human granulosa-lutein cells.

Granulosa cells are known to be the site of action of various hormones and agents that regulate ovarian function. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of gonadotrophins, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha and angiotensin II on the cyclic AMP (c-AMP) signalling transduction pathway in human granulosa-lutein cells. Exposure to agents that elevate c-AMP or mimic c-AMP action caused the cells to become rounded in a process that was rapid and reversible. We were able to demonstrate this cell rounding process in the presence of gonadotrophins and VIP, but not in the presence of PGF 2 alpha or angiotensin II. In addition, incubation of the cells with various selective phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors revealed that the PDE type IV isoform, but not type III, catalyses c-AMP degradation in human granulosa-lutein cells. Alteration in c-AMP-dependent cytomorphology appears to be a convenient method to analyse the regulation of c-AMP-mediated events in the human granulosa-lutein cells.