Effects of Androgen on Induction of Gonadotropin Receptors and Gonadotropin-Stimulated Adenosine 3′,5′-Monophosphate Production in Rat Ovarian Granulosa Cells*

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Abstract
Although androgens have been implicated as agents for follicular atresia in the mammalian ovary, it has been difficult to ascribe an action to these steroids that could lead, ultimately, to the degeneration of developing follicles. Since both FSH and estradiol are required for the development of preovulatory follicles and LH receptor, we examined the effect of 5adihydrotestosterone (DHT), a potent nonaromatizable androgen, on the content of gonadotropin receptors and gonadotropinstimulated cAMP accumulation in the granulosa cells from developing preantral and antral follicles. DHT treatment of 24-day-old intact female rats prevented the induction by ovine FSH of LH receptors and, thus, the ability of LH to stimulate cAMP accumulation in the membrana granulosa. FSH receptors and FSH-responsive adenylate cyclase were unaffected in this tissue, suggesting that DHT acted distal to these membrane components. Furthermore, DHT did not affect ovine FSH-stimulated ovarian estradiol production, suggesting that DHT did not alter the synthesis of estradiol but might alter its early actions. This possibility is supported by the observation that DHT administration to rats primed with estradiol did not prevent either the induction by highly purified human FSH of LH receptor or the ability of LH to stimulate adenylate cyclase. Thus, DHT may act on granulosa cells of developing follicles either to prevent expression of estrogen-mediated events or by altering some step in FSH action distal to receptor and cAMP. (Endocrinology 106: 1216, 1980)