Study summary · research use only
Interaction of bovine granulosa and theca cells in a novel serum-free co-culture system
Plain-language summary
Paraphrased from the published abstract below — not a verdict on whether anything works.
This in vitro study developed a serum-free co-culture system in which bovine granulosa and theca cells from 4-6 mm follicles were grown on opposite sides of laminin-coated inserts. The authors report the cells maintained steroidogenic activity for at least 7 days and showed paracrine communication: co-cultured theca cells secreted more androstenedione than in mono-culture, and granulosa cell viability doubled with co-culture. Co-cultures responded to combinations of FSH, LH, LR3 IGF-I, and androstenedione, with androstenedione secretion increased by one treatment and oestradiol by another, while progesterone was unaffected. The higher plating density showed greater theca survival. The authors describe the system as a model for studying ovarian paracrine communication.
Abstract
The objective of this study was to develop a defined culture system in which bovine follicular and granulosa cells are grown in close contact with each other and with the extracellular matrix (ECM) component laminin. Granulosa and theca cells from follicles 4-6 mm in diameter were cultured on either side of laminin-coated BioCoat cell culture inserts in a serum-free medium containing 10 ng insulin ml(-1) at plating densities of 10(5) and 3 x 10(5) cells per membrane side. The cells adopted a clumped arrangement, maintained steroidogenic activity for at least 7 days and demonstrated paracrine communication by increased steroidogenesis and enhanced cell survival compared with cells in mono-culture. Co-cultured theca cells secreted significantly more androstenedione compared with cells in mono-culture. Granulosa cell viability was doubled by co-culture with theca cells. Co-cultures at both cell plating densities were responsive to treatment with physiological combinations of either FSH, LH and LR3 insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) (treatment A) or FSH, LR3 IGF-I and androstenedione (treatment B). Significantly more androstenedione was secreted in the presence of treatment A compared with controls. In contrast, oestradiol secretion was increased only by treatment B. Progesterone secretion was unaffected by treatment and did not increase during culture. Co-cultures at the higher plating density demonstrated higher theca cell survival and better maintenance of the follicular cell phenotype. In conclusion, this novel co-culture system provides a unique model for the study of paracrine communication between ovarian somatic cells and cell-ECM interactions during follicle growth.
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