A monoclonal antibody recognizes a 39 kDa protein expressed in atretic granulosa cells

A major problem in ovarian physiology is the lack of conveniently quantifiable markers of atresia. Towards this end, we identified a monoclonal antibody (anti-OA-2) that selectively recognizes granulosa cells in atretic follicles. When cryostat sections of rat ovaries were incubated with anti-OA-2, granulosa cells in atretic follicles showed intense immunofluorescent labeling. In contrast, no anti-OA-2 immunoreactivity was observed in the granulosa of the healthy follicles. The amount of anti-OA-2 binding was significantly enhanced when atresia was stimulated by treatment with human chorionic gonadotropin, testosterone, or estrogen withdrawal. The results of immunoprecipitation and Western blot analyses indicated that the OA-2 antigen is a 39 kDa protein which is actively synthesized by the granulosa during atresia. The 39 kDa protein is localized at or near the inner surface of the plasma membrane. We conclude that the anti-OA-2 monoclonal will prove useful as a convenient analytical tool to study the regulation of granulosa atresia.