[Brain-derived neurotrophin factor inhibits steroid biosynthesis by human granulosa-lutein cells]

To study the effect of brain-derived neurotrophin factor (BDNF) on the synthesis of estradiol and progesterone in human granulose-lutein cells (HGLCs) and the expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory factor (STAR) mRNA.

HGLCs were obtained from infertile women undergoing ovulation induction for fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) for male or tubal factors. HGLCs were cultured in serum-free media 199 for 24 h and treated by BDNF at 25, 50 and 100 ng/ml. Radio immunoassay (RIA) was used to examine the concentration of estradiol and progesterone, and reverse transcriptional PCR (RT-PCR) employed to detect the expression of STAR mRNA after treatment with BDNF at the concentrations of 25, 50 and 100 ng/ml.

BDNF significantly inhibited the production of progesterone (P(4)) in the culture media of HGLCs in a dose-dependent manner. BDNF did not change the level of 17beta-estradiol (E(2)), but decreased the expression of STAR mRNA dose-dependently.

BDNF can inhibit the synthesis of P(4) in HGLCs and regulate ovarian steroidogenesis. BDNF may inhibit HGLCs from producing P(4) by decreasing the transcription level of STAR gene in human ovary, and plays an important role in luteal regression.