Gonadotropins mediate DNA synthesis and protection from spontaneous cell death in human ovarian surface epithelium

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Endocrinology
• Gynecologic Oncology
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Epithelial ovarian cancers originate from ovarian surface epithelium (OSE).
• Gonadotropins, including follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), are suspected to play a role in ovarian cancer development.
• Understanding the effects of gonadotropins on OSE cells is crucial for investigating ovarian cancer pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of FSH and LH on DNA synthesis in primary OSE cultures and immortalized OSE cell lines.
• To assess the influence of FSH and LH on spontaneous cell death in OSE cells.
• To determine the variability of gonadotropin effects across different OSE cell samples.

Main Methods:

• Primary OSE cell cultures were established from women with benign gynecologic conditions.
• Immortalized OSE cell lines were utilized for comparative analysis.
• [(3)H]thymidine incorporation assays measured DNA synthesis.
• JAM assays were employed to quantify spontaneous cell death.

Main Results:

• Both FSH and LH significantly induced DNA synthesis in a proportion of primary OSE cultures and OSE cell lines.
• FSH demonstrated significant protection from cell death in some primary OSE cultures and OSE cell lines.
• LH also provided significant protection from cell death in a subset of OSE cell lines and primary cultures.
• The observed effects of gonadotropins on OSE cells exhibited considerable variability.

Conclusions:

• Gonadotropins possess the capacity to stimulate proliferation and inhibit cell death in OSE cells in vitro.
• The response of OSE cells to gonadotropins is heterogeneous, varying between cell cultures from different individuals.
• These findings suggest a complex role for gonadotropins in OSE biology with implications for ovarian cancer research.