MATURATIONAL CHANGES IN SHEEP OVARIAN FOLLICLES: GONADOTROPHIC STIMULATION OF CYCLIC AMP PRODUCTION BY ISOLATED THECA AND GRANULOSA CELLS

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Abstract
Theca and granulosa tissues isolated from sheep ovarian follicles of different sizes were incubated in the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; 5 IU/ml) or follicle stimulating hormone (FSH; 5 .mu.g NIH[National Institutes of Health]-FSH-S11/ml) for 40 min. Changes in the total amounts of cyclic[c]AMP were used as an index of the responsiveness of these preparations to the hormones. Thecal tissue of both large (4-6 mm in diameter) and small (1-3 mm) follicles responded similarly to gonadotropins. Granulosa cells from small follicles failed to respond to hCG stimulation. FSH, however, consistently increased cAMP production in comparison with controls or cells treated with hCG. Granulosa cells of large follicles responded to both hCG and FSH.