# GRANULOSA CELL FUNCTION DURING FOLLICULOGENESIS

> **NIH NIH R01** · AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY · 1993 · $144,234

## Abstract

The growth and development of ovarian follicles is dependent upon the
population of granulosa cells present in the follicle.  A systematic study
of the growth and differentiation of granulosa cells has been difficult
because of the differences in granulosa cells within the same follicle.
Functionally different populations of granulosa cells can be separated
using Percoll gradients from the ovaries of immature rats treated with
diethyl stilbestrol (DES) to induce follicular growth and pregnant mare's
serum gonadotropins (PMSG) to induce follicular growth and differentiation.

Two populations of granulosa cells gave been shown to exist by flow
cytometry and EM studies.  Granulosa cells from DES and PMSG treated rats
will be separated by the use of an EPICS 5 flow cytometer and Percoll
gradients.  The cells will be characterized by light and electron
microscopy, presence of FSH and LH receptors and FSH induced estradiol and
progesterone production.  A combination of the enrichment of ovarian
follicles by size and granulosa cell separation is expected to yield
populations of granulosa cells in various stages of growth and
differentiation.  The use of the DES and PMSG primed immature rats is being
made to work out experimental procedures in a cost effective manner with
minimal animal use and the results obtained will be verified in the adult
cycling rat.  In order to obtain sufficient numbers of granulosa cells for
further studies in different stages of growth and differentiation with use
of a minimal number of animals, immortalization by transfection with the
large T antigen of the SV40 virus will be attempted to generate stable cell
lines.  Such transfection studies have been successful in our hands using
bovine adrenal cells in which the cells retained their pretransfection
characteristics.  With purified granulosa cell population with different
growth and differentiation characteristics, detailed studies will then be
done on the regulation of growth and differentiation by agents such as
growth factors, estradiol, cAMP analogues, and FSH singly or in combination
in a serum free defined medium.  The effect of androgens on the stage
dependent stimulation or inhibition of aromatase will also be studied.
These studies are expected to provide new insights into the factors that
lead to healthy ovulatory follicles or atretic follicles during the process
of folliculogenesis.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 2199189
- **Project number:** 5R01HD024488-04
- **Recipient organization:** AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** N4WWJC8T2593
- **Principal Investigator:** VIRENDRA B MAHESH
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1993
- **Award amount:** $144,234
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1989-12-01 → 1994-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2199189

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 2199189, GRANULOSA CELL FUNCTION DURING FOLLICULOGENESIS (5R01HD024488-04). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/2199189. Licensed CC0.

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