Maintenance of in vitro granulosa cell function by adenoviral mediated follicle stimulating hormone receptor gene transduction.

Purpose: To maintain in vitro granulosa cell function by adenoviral-mediated FSHR gene transduction.

Methods: Rat granulosa cells were cultured and transduced with adenovirus carrying FSHR gene. The number of receptors and the rate of steroidogenesis were assessed.

Results: The number of FSHR on the granulosa cells was 4,874 per cell immediately after extraction, it was 2,176 by the third day, and had further reduced to 693 by the seventh day. On the third day of culture, the amount of production of estradiol by FSH stimulation also decreased to about one-quarter of the first day's quantity. Compared to the untransduced granulose cells, when the cells contained FSHR gene, the FSHR expression and steroidogenesis were both enhanced (2,176 vs. 7,206 per cell (p<0.001) and 192 vs. 5940 pg/mL (p<0.01), respectively).

Conclusion: Granulosa cell functions can be maintained or increased by novel gene therapy. This can be a useful component of assisted reproductive therapy.