Androgens regulate ovarian follicular development by increasing follicle stimulating hormone receptor and microRNA-125b expression.

ABSTRACT: Although androgen excess is considered detrimental to women's health and fertility, global and ovarian granulosa cell-specific androgen-receptor (AR) knockout mouse models have been used to show that androgen actions through ARs are actually necessary for normal ovarian function and female fertility. Here we describe two AR-mediated pathways in granulosa cells that regulate ovarian follicular development and therefore female fertility. First, we show that androgens attenuate follicular atresia through nuclear and extranuclear signaling pathways by enhancing expression of the microRNA (miR) miR-125b, which in turn suppresses proapoptotic protein expression. Second, we demonstrate that, independent of transcription, androgens enhance follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) receptor expression, wh

SUBMITTER: Sen A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3939860 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature