A novel action of follicle-stimulating hormone in the ovary promotes estradiol production without inducing excessive follicular growth before puberty.

ABSTRACT: In cyclic females, FSH stimulates ovarian estradiol (E2) production and follicular growth up to the terminal stage. A transient elevation in circulating FSH and E2 levels occurs shortly after birth. But what could be the action of FSH on the ovary during this period, and in particular how it stimulates ovarian steroidogenesis without supporting terminal follicular maturation is intriguing. By experimentally manipulating FSH levels, we demonstrate in mice that the mid-infantile elevation in FSH is mandatory for E2 production by the immature ovary, but that it does not stimulate follicle growth. Importantly, FSH increases aromatase expression to stimulate E2 synthesis, however it becomes unable to induce cyclin D2, a major driver of granulosa cell proliferation. Besides, although FSH prematu

SUBMITTER: Francois CM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5387682 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature