Bifunctional role of transforming growth factor-beta during granulosa cell development

Regulatory actions of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF beta) on granulosa cell function were analyzed in cells cultured from the ovaries of diethylstilbestrol-implanted rats. In the presence of a suboptimal concentration of FSH (5 ng/ml) that increased LH receptors by 100-fold during a 72-h culture, TGF beta augmented this response in a dose-dependent manner with a maximal effect at 16 pM. In contrast, the growth factor inhibited the LH receptor response to an optimal dose of FSH (50 ng) by up to 50% and was inactive in the absence of gonadotropin. TGF beta also enhanced the formation of cAMP by 5 ng FSH and partially inhibited the effects of higher FSH concentrations. However, the actions of TGF beta were more prominent on LH receptor induction than on cAMP production with either low or high amounts of FSH. In addition, TGF beta had little effect on cAMP production stimulated by cholera toxin or forskolin, but amplified the actions of these ligands as well as that of 8-bromo-cAMP on LH receptor expression. TGF beta also modulated the steroidogenic activity of the granulosa cells, with increased production of progesterone in response to 5-100 ng FSH. The bifunctional actions of TGF beta on FSH-induced LH receptor formation were observed throughout a 96-h culture period. However, the presence of the growth factor was not required for the first 24 h of culture, indicating that TGF beta alters the later events involved in LH receptor formation. TGF beta augmented the stimulatory actions of 5 ng FSH on LH receptors in the absence or presence of insulin, but its inhibitory effect on these receptors was only observed in cells treated with insulin. These results indicate that TGF beta modifies FSH action during granulosa cell development in a biphasic manner. TGF beta can exert stimulatory or inhibitory effects depending upon the concentration of FSH and the presence of insulin, and these are due to alterations in cAMP action as well as cAMP production. Autocrine and/or endocrine actions of TGF beta during granulosa cell differentiation may be involved in the processes of follicle selection and development.