Identification of genes targeted by FSH and oocytes in porcine granulosa cells

In the mammalian ovarian follicle maturing oocytes are nurtured and supported by surrounding somatic cells, the mural granulosa cells and the cumulus cells. These cells are regulated by follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), originating from the pituitary, and paracrine factors derived from the oocyte. To gain insight into the mechanisms involved in the regulation of granulosa cell function, this study aimed to identify genes in mural granulosa cells that are regulated by FSH and oocyte secreted factors using the pig as a model organism. Mural granulosa cells were collected from 3–6 mm follicles from sow ovaries and cultured in serum free medium in the presence or absence of FSH and/or isolated cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs). FSH significantly increased both the metabolic activity and progesterone production of granulosa cells, while the presence of COCs reversed these FSH effects. Expression levels of mRNA in the absence/presence of FSH and COCs were analyzed on porcine specific microarrays representing 11,300 genes. Both previously identified and novel FSH target genes as well as some oocyte affected genes were found. Expression of inhibitor of DNA binding protein 2 and 3, ID2 and ID3, was decreased by FSH but increased by COCs, as validated by quantitative PCR. These proteins function as dominant negative basic helix loop helix (bHLH) transcription factors and since all regulated genes contain the consensus E-box sequence that can bind bHLH factors, our data suggest that FSH and COCs may regulate granulosa cell function by tuning the activity of bHLH factors, through ID2 and ID3.