Hepatocyte growth factor regulates ovarian theca-interstitial cell differentiation and androgen production

During ovarian follicle growth, precise regulation of the onset of androgen production by ovarian theca-interstitial cells (TIC) is necessary for maintaining follicle viability. Thus, temporary suppression of TIC androgen production in preantral follicles is the key to promoting follicle development. Evidence indicates that this process is coordinated via intraovarian growth factors. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) can induce granulosa cell (GC) proliferation and suppress follicular atresia, indicating a role for HGF in promoting follicle growth and viability. To determine whether HGF could reversibly suppress androgen production, this study investigated the effect of HGF on TIC differentiation and steroid production. Twenty-six-day-old rats were used in all studies. HGF messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in TIC and GC was determined by reverse transcription-PCR. Agarose gel electrophoresis of the PCR products yielded a single band corresponding to the 290-bp HGF product for both TIC and GC. HGF expression in cultured TIC and GC was not blocked by gonadotropins or HGF. To investigate the effects of HGF on TIC steroidogenesis, TIC were isolated from the ovaries of hypophysectomized rats. TIC (3.0 x 10(4) cells/well) were cultured with LH (0-3 ng/ml) and/or HGF (0-100 ng/ml) for 48 h, and androsterone levels were measured by RIA. HGF did not alter androsterone levels in the absence of LH; however, HGF reversibly impaired LH-dependent androsterone production by as much as 57% (IC50 = 1.5 +/- 0.01 ng/ml). LH (0.3 ng/ml) stimulated progesterone (P4) synthesis by TIC (1201 +/- 190 pg/ml) compared to that by control cells (210 +/- 30 pg/ml). HGF stimulated basal P4 production, and LH-dependent P4 synthesis was augmented 2.6-fold by HGF (ED50 = 0.3 +/- 0.01 ng/ml). The DNA content and cell viability in TIC cultures were not affected by HGF. The effect of HGF on steroidogenic enzyme gene expression in TIC was also investigated via PCR. HGF did not alter the level of basal or LH-induced P450 side-chain cleavage and 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase mRNAs; however, LH-dependent P45017 alpha hydroxylase/C17,20 lyase mRNA content was reduced 4.5 fold in the presence of HGF. Thus, HGF is expressed in both TIC and GC obtained from the immature rat ovary, suggesting its presence in growing follicles. In TIC, HGF stimulated P4 synthesis, but impaired androgen production, concurrent with a down-regulatory effect on P45017 alpha hydroxylase/C17,20 lyase gene expression. Collectively, these results indicate that HGF reversibly impairs LH-stimulated androgen production in TIC. Such effects may help promote folliculogenesis.