help button home button Endocrine Society Endocrinology
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Purchase Article
Right arrow View Shopping Cart
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Copyright Permission
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Besecke, L. M.
Right arrow Articles by Weiss, J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Besecke, L. M.
Right arrow Articles by Weiss, J.
Endocrinology Vol. 138, No. 7 2841-2848
Copyright © 1997 by The Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Pituitary Follistatin Regulates Activin-Mediated Production of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone during the Rat Estrous Cycle1

Leslie M. Besecke2, Monika J. Guendner, Patrick A. Sluss, Amanda G. Polak, Teresa K. Woodruff, J. Larry Jameson, Angela C. Bauer-Dantoin and Jeffrey Weiss

Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Molecular Medicine, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois 60611; and the Reproductive Endocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital (P.A.S.), Boston, Massachusetts 02114

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Jeffrey Weiss, Ph.D., Northwestern University, S217, 303 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60611. E-mail: jeff-weiss{at}nwu.edu

Follistatin, an activin-binding protein, plays a key role in the modulation of activin-dependent functions. In the anterior pituitary, activin stimulates the synthesis and secretion of FSH. In the current study, we assessed the roles of locally produced activin and follistatin in the control of FSH gene expression and secretion. The anterior pituitary gland follistatin content was measured at frequent intervals during the rat estrous cycle. Follistatin protein levels were high before the primary gonadotropin surges, decreased by 50% on proestrous evening, and rebounded to a peak at midnight on proestrus before returning to presurge levels on estrus morning. Changes in pituitary follistatin protein content were preceded by parallel changes in pituitary follistatin messenger RNA (mRNA). The trough in follistatin protein content on proestrus coincided with a peak in circulating levels of free activin A (not bound to follistatin) and a sharp rise in FSHß mRNA levels, suggesting that decreased pituitary follistatin leads to increased available activin. To quantitate the contribution of pituitary free activin to pituitary expression of FSHß mRNA and the primary and secondary serum FSH surges, rats were infused through carotid catheters with saline or recombinant human follistatin (288-amino acid isoform; rhFS-288) at different times during the estrous cycle. Infusion of rhFS-288 on diestrus did not affect FSH production. In contrast, infusion of rhFS-288 during the secondary FSH surge decreased the peaks in FSHß mRNA and serum FSH by 63% and 47%, respectively, relative to those in saline-infused control animals. Infusion of rhFS-288 during the primary FSH surge decreased serum FSH to a lesser degree (24%). These data indicate a physiological role for pituitary follistatin in the control of activin-mediated FSH synthesis and secretion during the rat estrous cycle.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Biol. Reprod.Home page
J. P. Moore ,Jr. and S. J. Winters
Weaning and the Developmental Changes in Follicle-Stimulating Hormone, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide, and Inhibin B in the Male Rat
Biol Reprod, April 1, 2008; 78(4): 752 - 760.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Biol. Chem.Home page
A. L. Blount, J. M. Vaughan, W. W. Vale, and L. M. Bilezikjian
A Smad-binding Element in Intron 1 Participates in Activin-dependent Regulation of the Follistatin Gene
J. Biol. Chem., March 14, 2008; 283(11): 7016 - 7026.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 EndocrinologyHome page
V. G. Thackray and P. L. Mellon
Synergistic Induction of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone {beta}-Subunit Gene Expression by Gonadal Steroid Hormone Receptors and Smad Proteins
Endocrinology, March 1, 2008; 149(3): 1091 - 1102.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 EndocrinologyHome page
P. Su, F. Shafiee-Kermani, A. J. Gore, J. Jia, J. C. Wu, and W. L. Miller
Expression and Regulation of the {beta}-Subunit of Ovine Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Relies Heavily on a Promoter Sequence Likely to Bind Smad-Associated Proteins
Endocrinology, September 1, 2007; 148(9): 4500 - 4508.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Mol EndocrinolHome page
K. B Lee, V. Khivansara, M. M Santos, P. Lamba, T. Yuen, S. C Sealfon, and D. J Bernard
Bone morphogenetic protein 2 and activin A synergistically stimulate follicle-stimulating hormone {beta} subunit transcription
J. Mol. Endocrinol., February 1, 2007; 38(2): 315 - 330.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 EndocrinologyHome page
S. M. McGillivray, V. G. Thackray, D. Coss, and P. L. Mellon
Activin and Glucocorticoids Synergistically Activate Follicle-Stimulating Hormone {beta}-Subunit Gene Expression in the Immortalized L{beta}T2 Gonadotrope Cell Line
Endocrinology, February 1, 2007; 148(2): 762 - 773.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 ReproductionHome page
L. M Bilezikjian, A. L Blount, C. J Donaldson, and W. W Vale
Pituitary actions of ligands of the TGF-{beta} family: activins and inhibins.
Reproduction, August 1, 2006; 132(2): 207 - 215.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 EndocrinologyHome page
Y. Sidis, A. Mukherjee, H. Keutmann, A. Delbaere, M. Sadatsuki, and A. Schneyer
Biological Activity of Follistatin Isoforms and Follistatin-Like-3 Is Dependent on Differential Cell Surface Binding and Specificity for Activin, Myostatin, and Bone Morphogenetic Proteins
Endocrinology, July 1, 2006; 147(7): 3586 - 3597.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Mol EndocrinolHome page
P. Lamba, M. M Santos, D. P Philips, and D. J Bernard
Acute regulation of murine follicle-stimulating hormone {beta} subunit transcription by activin A
J. Mol. Endocrinol., February 1, 2006; 36(1): 201 - 220.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J EndocrinolHome page
T M Lovell, P G Knight, and R T Gladwell
Variation in pituitary expression of mRNAs encoding the putative inhibin co-receptor (betaglycan) and type-I and type-II activin receptors during the chicken ovulatory cycle
J. Endocrinol., September 1, 2005; 186(3): 447 - 455.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Mol. Endocrinol.Home page
B. D. Cherrington, T. A. Farmerie, C. A. Lents, J. D. Cantlon, M. S. Roberson, and C. M. Clay
Activin Responsiveness of the Murine Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Receptor Gene Is Mediated by a Composite Enhancer Containing Spatially Distinct Regulatory Elements
Mol. Endocrinol., April 1, 2005; 19(4): 898 - 912.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Biol. Reprod.Home page
K. A. Prendergast, L. L. Burger, K. W. Aylor, D. J. Haisenleder, A. C. Dalkin, and J. C. Marshall
Pituitary Follistatin Gene Expression in Female Rats: Evidence That Inhibin Regulates Transcription
Biol Reprod, February 1, 2004; 70(2): 364 - 370.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 EndocrinologyHome page
S. C. Chapman and T. K. Woodruff
Betaglycan Localization in the Female Rat Pituitary: Implications for the Regulation of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone by Inhibin
Endocrinology, December 1, 2003; 144(12): 5640 - 5649.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 EndocrinologyHome page
A. Schneyer, A. Schoen, A. Quigg, and Y. Sidis
Differential Binding and Neutralization of Activins A and B by Follistatin and Follistatin Like-3 (FSTL-3/FSRP/FLRG)
Endocrinology, May 1, 2003; 144(5): 1671 - 1674.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Exp. Biol. Med.Home page
C. Welt, Y. Sidis, H. Keutmann, and A. Schneyer
Activins, Inhibins, and Follistatins: From Endocrinology to Signaling. A Paradigm for the New Millennium
Experimental Biology and Medicine, October 1, 2002; 227(9): 724 - 752.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Biol. Reprod.Home page
V. Padmanabhan, D. Battaglia, M. B. Brown, F. J. Karsch, J. S. Lee, W. Pan, D. J. Phillips, and J. Van Cleeff
Neuroendocrine Control of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Secretion: II. Is Follistatin-Induced Suppression of FSH Secretion Mediated via Changes in Activin Availability and Does It Involve Changes in Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Secretion?
Biol Reprod, May 1, 2002; 66(5): 1395 - 1402.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

Home page
 Biol. Reprod.Home page
M. Baratta, L.A. West, A.M. Turzillo, and T.M. Nett
Activin Modulates Differential Effects of Estradiol on Synthesis and Secretion of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone in Ovine Pituitary Cells
Biol Reprod, February 1, 2001; 64(2): 714 - 719.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

Home page
 EndocrinologyHome page
A. C. Dalkin, D. J. Haisenleder, J. T. Gilrain, K. Aylor, M. Yasin, and J. C. Marshall
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Regulation of Gonadotropin Subunit Gene Expression in Female Rats: Actions on Follicle-Stimulating Hormone {beta} Messenger Ribonucleic Acid (mRNA) Involve Differential Expression of Pituitary Activin ({beta}-B) and Follistatin mRNAs
Endocrinology, February 1, 1999; 140(2): 903 - 908.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

Home page
 Biol. Reprod.Home page
E. Y. Wang, L. B. Draper, E. Lee, A. Polak, P. Sluss, J. Weiss, and T. K. Woodruff
Identification of Naturally Occurring Follistatin Complexes in Human Biological Fluids
Biol Reprod, January 1, 1999; 60(1): 8 - 13.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

Home page
 EndocrinologyHome page
A. C. Dalkin, D. J. Haisenleder, J. T. Gilrain, K. Aylor, M. Yasin, and J. C. Marshall
Regulation of Pituitary Follistatin and Inhibin/Activin Subunit Messenger Ribonucleic Acids (mRNAs) in Male and Female Rats: Evidence for Inhibin Regulation of Follistatin mRNA in Females
Endocrinology, June 1, 1998; 139(6): 2818 - 2823.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Mol. Endocrinol.Home page
Q. Guo, T. R. Kumar, T. Woodruff, L. A. Hadsell, F. J. DeMayo, and M. M. Matzuk
Overexpression of Mouse Follistatin Causes Reproductive Defects in Transgenic Mice
Mol. Endocrinol., January 1, 1998; 12(1): 96 - 106.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Endocrinology Endocrine Reviews J. Clin. End. & Metab.
Molecular Endocrinology Recent Prog. Horm. Res. All Endocrine Journals
Copyright © 1997 by The Endocrine Society