High impact information on FSHR

• Results from these experiments showed that addition of activin A to the granulosa cell cultures had no effect on the expression of mRNA for the inhibin alpha subunit or the FSH receptor, but it did affect the expression of mRNA for the LH receptor [1].
• A clone, pcFSHR, containing a 3.1-kb insert was isolated from a cDNA library of chicken ovarian follicles by screening with an RT-PCR-generated cDNA probe for a putative N-terminal half-region of chicken FSH-R [2].
• Overall, the nucleic acid sequence homology of the cFSH-R cDNA coding region is 71.8% and 72.2% compared to the rat and bovine FSH-R, respectively, while the deduced amino acid sequence identity for the receptor protein (693 amino acids) is 71.9% and 72.4%, respectively [3].
• Our results indicate that FSH receptor numbers decrease in granulosa cells without a change in affinity as follicles approach ovulation [4].
• This study analyzed the presence of FSH receptor and the cell subpopulations that proliferate in response to FSH in chick embryo gonads [5].

Biological context of FSHR

• After the release of LH, progesterone (P4) and estradiol-17beta (E2), found 4-5 h before ovulation, LHR and FSHR mRNA levels were observed to decrease in the granulosa layers of the largest (F1) and second largest (F2) preovulatory follicles, with the greatest in the LHR mRNA level of F1 [6].
• These results suggest that in hen granulosa cells, the mRNA levels of not only LHR but also FSHR are down-regulated by LH and the down-regulation may be mediated steroid hormones [6].

Anatomical context of FSHR

• However, higher expression of FSHR mRNA in the granulosa layer of the less mature follicles may be involved in the differentiation and maturation of granulosa cells in these follicles [7].
• Quantitative PCR analysis revealed that expression of mRNA encoding LHR and FSHR remained low in male gonads from day 4 to day 6 of incubation, whereas they increased on day 6 in female gonads [8].
• The sexual dimorphism in the expression of mRNAs encoding LHR and FSHR was confirmed in the sexually differentiated gonads of embryos at day 12 of incubation (LHR in ovary ratio LHR in testis = 7 ratio 1; FSHR in ovary ratio FSHR in testis = 9 ratio 1) [8].
• Somatic cells of the ovary expressed the FSH receptor in the 14-day-old chick embryo [5].

Associations of FSHR with chemical compounds

• Activin A regulation of the expression of mRNA for the LH receptor, FSH receptor, and the inhibin alpha subunit as well as the effect of activin A on the secretion of progesterone were investigated in chicken granulosa cell cultures [1].
• These results provide evidence for separate regulation of testicular LH and FSH receptors, with testosterone stimulation of LH receptor, but not FSH receptor number in young males [9].

Other interactions of FSHR

• Although expression of mRNAs encoding LHR, FSHR and P450c17 was detected at day 4 of incubation in both sexes, mRNA encoding P450aromatase appeared at day 6 in female embryos only, indicating that mRNAs encoding gonadotrophin receptors can be identified before sexual differentiation [8].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of FSHR

• FSH receptor mRNA was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in the male and female gonads of the 6 to 14-day-old chick embryo [5].

References