Dynamics of intra-follicular glucose during luteinization of macaque ovarian follicles

Glucose is important to the maturation of the oocyte and development of the embryo, while hyperglycemia results in profound reproductive and developmental consequences. However, the normal physiology of glucose in the ovary remains poorly understood. The goal of this study was to determine intra-follicular glucose dynamics during the periovulatory interval in non-human primates undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation protocols. Follicular fluid and mural granulosa cells were isolated before or up to 24 h after an ovulatory hCG bolus, and the human granulosa-lutein cell line hGL5 was used. Intra-follicular glucose increased 3 h after hCG, and remained at that level until 12 h when levels decline back to pre-hCG concentrations. Pyruvate and lactate concentrations in the follicle were not strongly altered by hCG. Mural granulosa cell expression of hexokinase 1 and 2, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase mRNA decreased following hCG, while glycogen phosphorylase (liver form) increased following hCG. Glucose uptake by hGL5 cells was delayed until 24 h following stimulation. In summary, intra-follicular glucose increases following an ovulatory stimulus and mural granulosa cells do not appear able to utilize it, sparing the glucose for the cumulus-oocyte complex.