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An Intercellular Response to Estrogen by Granulosa Cells in the Rat Ovary; An Electron Microscope Study^*

Department of Biology, Boston University Boston, Massachusetts 02215

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Ultrastructural responses of ovarian granulosa cells to exogenous estrogen have been investigated in immature rats. Animals, 21-daysold, were hypophysectomized and a regimen of 6 daily injections was initiated 30 hr after the operation. Some rats received sesame oil only and others were given totals of 3 or 6 mg diethylstilbestrol (DES). Ovarian tissues were prepared for microscopy 24 hr after the last injection. In addition, normal rats were sacrificed at 21 days to monitor ovarian morphology at the time of hypophysectomy. Rapid simultaneous changes, occurring in cells of the pre-ovulatory rat follicle, suggest a necessity for cell communication, particularly in the multilayered avascular granulosa. Therefore, emphasis is placed on an intercellular junction (the nexus) thought to play an important role in communication. A correlation is made between the extent of thecal development and the incidence of granulosa cell nexuses in follicles of normal as well as hypophysectomized rats. If the "theca" consists of undifferentiated fibroblasts, fewer granulosa nexuses are observed than if the theca cells are arranged in organized layers and contain lipid droplets. Nexuses, often observed in well developed follicles of normal 21-day-rats, are less frequently encountered 7 days later if hypophysectomy was carried out on day 21. However, if DES is administered sc during the period following hypophysectomy, there is a marked increase in the nexus population of granulosa cells, but overt luteinization does not occur. The evidence suggests that the coupling of granulosa cells –an important step in their differentiation in vivo, is not directly dependent on gonadotrophic hormones. Some of the roles that gonadotrophins, estrogens and nexuses might play in follicular development are discussed. (Endocrinology 90: 992, 1972)

Footnotes

^* This work is part of a thesis submitted by the first author to the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Boston University Department of Biology, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D. degree, May, 1971.

¹ Present address: Department of Pathology, University Hospital, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02118

Received October 5, 1971.

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