Prostaglandin E2 Stimulates Cumulus Expansion and Hyaluronic Acid Synthesis by Cumuli Oophori Isolated from Mice

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Abstract
The effect of prostaglandins on the stimulation of cumulus expansion and hyaluronic acid synthesis by cumuli oophori isolated from mouse Graafian follicles was determined. It was found that prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), but not prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α), stimulated cumulus expansion and hyaluronic acid synthesis by the isolated cumuli oophori. Indomethacin, a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor, did not block cumulus expansion or hyaluronic acid synthesis induced by follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). In addition, when the isolated cumuli oophori were incubated in medium containing maximally stimulating concentrations of both PGE2 and FSH, significantly more hyaluronic acid was synthesized than in response to either the PGE2 or the FSH alone. Therefore, PGE2 is probably not an obligatory intermediate in the FSH-stimulation of cumulus expansion by isolated cumuli oophori. It is suggested that PGE2 may play a role in the indirect stimulation of cumulus expansion by luteinizing hormone in vivo.