Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Target Cell Response to Hormones01:22

Target Cell Response to Hormones

6.5K
Hormones intricately bind to receptors on the surface or within target cells, initiating a cascade of cellular responses.
Notably, the cellular response can be regulated by altering the number of receptors expressed in the cell. For example, prolonged exposure to elevated hormone levels results in a gradual decline or down-regulation in the number of receptors for that specific hormone on the cell surface. Conversely, in response to low hormone levels, cells may use up-regulation, producing an...
6.5K
Hormonal Regulation of the Menstrual Cycle01:22

Hormonal Regulation of the Menstrual Cycle

2.4K
The ovarian cycle regulates endometrial changes throughout a single menstrual cycle via the coordinated action of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and gonadotrophins.
At puberty, GnRH begins a pulsatile release pattern, which triggers the anterior pituitary gland to secrete follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). The frequency and amplitude of GnRH pulses vary across the menstrual cycle, with faster pulses favoring LH release and slower pulses favoring FSH...
2.4K
Gonadal and Placental Hormones01:24

Gonadal and Placental Hormones

4.2K
The gonads, namely the testes in males and the ovaries in females, are pivotal in producing gonadal hormones that orchestrate the intricate processes of sexual development and reproduction.
In males, testosterone is the primary gonadal androgen. It plays a central role in the maturation of male reproductive organs — the penis and testes. Additionally, testosterone is instrumental in the development of secondary sexual characteristics — a deep voice as well as facial and pubic hair...
4.2K
Hormonal Control of the Ovarian Cycle01:30

Hormonal Control of the Ovarian Cycle

7.8K
The ovarian cycle is meticulously regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. This cycle orchestrates the release of a mature oocyte, essential for reproduction.
Before puberty, the hypothalamus releases GnRH in a low frequency, low amplitude pulsatile manner. This along with the immature hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis activity, results in low estrogen levels and the absence of a fully functional ovarian cycle.  At puberty, GnRH secretion increases in both frequency and...
7.8K
Ovarian Cycle01:27

Ovarian Cycle

5.6K
The menstrual cycle includes a critical component known as the ovarian cycle, which undergoes two main phases each month—the follicular phase and the luteal phase. The follicular phase is variable and averaging around 14 days. Ovulation, triggered by a surge in luteinizing hormone (LH), marks the transition between the two phases. The second phase, the luteal phase, is relatively consistent, lasting approximately 14 days, and is marked by the activity of the corpus luteum. While a cycle...
5.6K
TGF - β Signaling Pathway01:16

TGF - β Signaling Pathway

11.0K
The TGF-β signaling pathway regulates cell growth, differentiation, adhesion, motility, and development. TGF-β ligands that induce TGF-β signaling are synthesized in their latent form. Several proteases or cell surface receptors such as integrins act upon the latent form, releasing the active ligand. There are three types of mammalian TGF-βs: (TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3) that bind as homodimers or heterodimers to TGF-β receptors. The TGF-β receptors...
11.0K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Association of maternal hemoglobin levels and chorioamnionitis with preterm birth and low birth weight: a cohort study.

World journal of pediatrics : WJP·2026
Same author

Multi-omics pleiotropic association analyses reveal functionally relevant genes and druggable pathways for ovarian aging.

Genome biology·2026
Same author

Sino-Canadian Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative in China: an economic evaluation protocol.

BMJ open·2026
Same author

Reevaluating statistical methods for proportion-based laboratory outcomes in assisted reproduction.

Journal of ovarian research·2026
Same author

First-trimester profiling of maternal plasma metals and vitamins in relation to gestational hypertension.

Environmental research·2026
Same author

Cumulative live birth after unstimulated in vitro maturation versus conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a 36-month retrospective matched cohort study.

Journal of ovarian research·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 12, 2026

A Modified Co-Culture System for Understanding Granulosa-Theca Cell Interactions in the Bovine Ovary
07:03

A Modified Co-Culture System for Understanding Granulosa-Theca Cell Interactions in the Bovine Ovary

Published on: September 19, 2025

761

Activin A, B and AB decrease progesterone production by down-regulating StAR in human granulosa cells.

Hsun-Ming Chang1, Jung-Chien Cheng1, He-Feng Huang2

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Child & Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6H 3V5, Canada.

Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology
|May 24, 2015
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Activins A, B, and AB suppress progesterone production by down-regulating StAR expression in human granulosa cells. This occurs via an ALK4-mediated SMAD2/SMAD4 pathway, offering insights into reproductive system regulation.

Keywords:
Activin AActivin ABActivin BHuman granulosa cellsProgesteroneStAR

More Related Videos

A Tissue Culture Model of Estrogen-producing Primary Bovine Granulosa Cells
05:36

A Tissue Culture Model of Estrogen-producing Primary Bovine Granulosa Cells

Published on: September 6, 2018

10.0K
Two Methods for Establishing Primary Human Endometrial Stromal Cells from Hysterectomy Specimens
09:15

Two Methods for Establishing Primary Human Endometrial Stromal Cells from Hysterectomy Specimens

Published on: May 23, 2014

23.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 12, 2026

A Modified Co-Culture System for Understanding Granulosa-Theca Cell Interactions in the Bovine Ovary
07:03

A Modified Co-Culture System for Understanding Granulosa-Theca Cell Interactions in the Bovine Ovary

Published on: September 19, 2025

761
A Tissue Culture Model of Estrogen-producing Primary Bovine Granulosa Cells
05:36

A Tissue Culture Model of Estrogen-producing Primary Bovine Granulosa Cells

Published on: September 6, 2018

10.0K
Two Methods for Establishing Primary Human Endometrial Stromal Cells from Hysterectomy Specimens
09:15

Two Methods for Establishing Primary Human Endometrial Stromal Cells from Hysterectomy Specimens

Published on: May 23, 2014

23.8K

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Biology
  • Endocrinology
  • Cell Signaling

Background:

  • Activins are crucial regulators in the reproductive system.
  • Previous studies indicated activins modulate steroidogenesis in human granulosa cells.
  • The precise molecular mechanisms of activin action on steroidogenic gene expression remained unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of activins A, B, and AB on steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and progesterone production in human granulosa cells.
  • To elucidate the underlying molecular signaling pathways, including SMAD proteins and activin receptor-like kinases (ALK).

Main Methods:

  • Utilized immortalized human granulosa (SVOG) cells.
  • Administered activins A, B, and AB.
  • Assessed StAR expression and progesterone production.
  • Analyzed SMAD2/3 phosphorylation.
  • Employed TGF-β type I receptor inhibitor (SB431542).
  • Used small interfering RNA (siRNA) for ALK4, ALK5, SMAD2, SMAD3, and SMAD4 knockdown.

Main Results:

  • Activins A, B, and AB comparably reduced StAR expression and progesterone production in SVOG cells.
  • All three activin isoforms increased SMAD2 and SMAD3 phosphorylation.
  • Inhibition of TGF-β type I receptor or knockdown of ALK4, SMAD2, or SMAD4 abolished activin-induced StAR suppression.
  • ALK5 or SMAD3 knockdown did not affect activin-induced StAR suppression.

Conclusions:

  • Activins A, B, and AB down-regulate StAR expression and progesterone production in human granulosa cells.
  • The mechanism involves an ALK4-mediated pathway dependent on SMAD2 and SMAD4.
  • These findings enhance understanding of activin signaling in human granulosa cell steroidogenesis.