Abstract
Avian perivitelline membrane, an investment homologous to the zona pellucida of mammalian oocytes, is composed of two glycoproteins. Previous studies have indicated that one of the components, a glycoprotein homologous to mammalian ZPC, is produced and secreted by the granulosa cells of maturing follicles in quail ovary. In the present study, to investigate the hormonal regulation of ZPC production, [3H] leucine incorporation into ZPC was compared in granulosa cells cultured in a medium containing follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone, or prolactin, and a stimulatory effect of FSH was observed. By measuring ZPC protein in the medium and mRNA in the cells with Western blotting and Northern blotting analyses, respectively, we found that addition of FSH stimulated not only ZPC protein production but also ZPC mRNA expression in the granulosa cells. These results suggested that FSH stimulates ZPC protein production at the gene transcription level.
