In each estrous cycle dominant follicles are selected from a growing pool to develop to the preovulatory stage and to ovulate. Those follicles that do not ovulate must be eliminated in order to maintain the constant mass and homeostasis of the ovary. Granulosa cells are lost by apoptosis at the onset of follicular atresia, whereas apoptotic thecal cells are identified at later stages of atresia. Since transforming growth factor (TGF) α and TGFβ1 have been implicated in the regulation of thecal cell physiology we have localized these growth factors by immunohistochemistry in sections of ovaries from 25-day-old rats, an age at which the ovary exhibits a wave of atresia of preantral follicles. Thecal cells contained TGFα and TGFβ1 throughout the entire process of follicular atresia. To determine if these growth factors could influence thecal cell death, thecal/interstitial cells were isolated from 25-day-old rats, and maintained in culture with growth factors. Subconfluent cultures treated with TGFα or TGFβ1 alone remained healthy whereas in the presence of both TGFα and TGFβ1 there was light microscopical evidence of rounding up of cells and detachment from the monolayer. Chromatin condensation and internucleosomal fragmentation, characteristic of apoptosis, were observed by nucleic acid staining and fluorescence microscopy of thecal/interstitial cells treated with TGFα plus TGFβ1. Further evidence that these cells were undergoing apoptosis came from DNA analysis and the demonstration of DNA laddering. This response of thecal/interstitial cells to TGFα plus TGFβ1 was density dependent; confluent cultures were protected from the induction of apoptosis under these conditions. We conclude that thecal cells are eliminated from atretic follicles by the active and strictly regulated process of apoptosis involving the combined actions of TGFα and TGFβ1.
Journal of Endocrinology (1997) 153, 169–178
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