Role of adiponectin in regulating ovarian theca and granulosa cell function.

Adiponectin is an adipokine that has been implicated in insulin resistance, a condition associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome in humans, but whether adiponectin can directly affect ovarian theca or granulosa cell function is unknown. Therefore, to determine the effects of adiponectin on proliferation, steroidogenesis and gene expression of large-follicle theca and granulosa cells, experiments were conducted using bovine ovarian cell cultures. RT-PCR was used to elucidate the effects of adiponectin on gene expression of CYP11A1 and LH receptor (LHR) in large-follicle theca and granulosa cells, as well as expression of CYP17A1 in theca cells and CYP19A1 in granulosa cells.