Further studies on the gonadotrophin-induced inhibition of respiration in the preovulatory rat cumulus oophorus

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Abstract
LH [luteinizing hormone] decreases the O2 consumption of the rat cumulus oophorus cells, i.e., the granulosa cells immediately surrounding the follicular oocyte. The decrease occurs in the preovulatory period at the time when the oocyte resumes and completes meiosis. This study examines in more detail the time-course of LH-induced inhibition of cumulus respiration. When isolated cumuli were exposed to LH during in vitro culture, a significant inhibition of respiration occurred within 1 h. When follicle-enclosed cumuli were exposed to LH, in vivo or in vitro, the decrease in respiration was not evident until 4 h after the hormone exposure. By this time, oocyte maturation was already in progress. The decrease in cumulus respiration may not be directly linked to the onset of oocyte meiosis.