Summary
Postovulatory follicles of the tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus, were incubated with graded doses of salmon gonadotropin to identify the steroid hormones released by this tissue. In addition, the effects of either cytochalasin B or colchicine on steroid hormone release were studied. After the incubation, the tissue was examined by electron microscopy. Postovulatory follicles released testosterone and estradiol-17B in a dose-dependent manner with gonadotropin. There was no detectable release of progesterone or 17a-OH-progesterone. When stimulated with high doses of gonadotropin, the steroidogenic cells showed an increase in smooth endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi complexes, and lipid droplets. Also, microfilaments became arranged in orderly bundles and were found close to the numerous secretory vesicles and lipid droplets. Upon incubation with gonadotropin and either colchicine or cytochalasin B, the cells still appeared steroidogenic, but the filaments were not organized nor associated with vesicles or lipid droplets. Release of steroid hormone decreased significantly. Also in these tissues, vesicles were no longer numerous in the apical region of the granulosa cells, but were located primarily near smooth endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complexes. This suggests that disruption of the cytoskeleton results in reduced steroid hormone synthesis or release.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aggeler J, Frisch S, Werb Z (1984) Changes in cell shape correlate with collagenase gene expression in rabbit synovial fibroblasts. J Cell Biol 98:1662–1671
Bona-Gallo A, Licht P (1981) Gonadotropin specificity of in vitro testosterone secretion by fish testes. Gen Comp Endocrinol 43:467–478
Borisy G, Taylor E (1967) The mechanism of action of colchicine. Binding of colchicine-3H to cellular protein. J Cell Biol 34:525–533
Brown MS, Kovanen PT, Goldstein JL (1979) Receptor-mediated uptake of lipoprotein-cholesterol and its utilization for steroid synthesis in the adrenal cortex. Recent Prog Horm Res 35:215–249
Bullough WS (1942) Gametogenesis and some endocrine factors affecting it in the adult minnow (Phoxinus laevis L.). J Endocrinol 3:211–219
Chanderbhan R, Noland BJ, Scallen TJ, Vahouny GV (1982) Sterol carrier protein2. Delivery of cholesterol from adrenal lipid droplets to mitochondria for pregnenolone synthesis. J Biol Chem 257:8928–8934
Crivello JF, Jefcoate CR (1978) Mechanism of corticotropin action in rat adrenal cells. I. The effects of inhibitors of protein synthesis and of microfilament formation of corticosterone synthesis. Biochim Biophys Acta 542:315–329
Gemmell RT, Stacy B (1977) Effects of colchicine on the ovine corpus luteum: role of microtubules in the secretion of progesterone. J Reprod Fertil 49:115–117
Gemmell RT, Stacy BD, Thorburn GD (1974) Ultrastructural study of secretory granules in the corpus luteum of the sheep during the estrous cycle. Biol Reprod 11:447–462
Hall P (1984) Cellular organization for steroidogenesis. Int Rev Cytol 86:53–95
Hall P, Charponnier C, Nakamura M, Gabbiani G (1979) The role of microfilaments in the response of adrenal tumor cells to adrenocorticotropic hormone. J Biol Chem 254:9080–9084
Kagawa H, Young G, Adachi S, Nagahama Y (1982) Estradiol-17B production in amago salmon (Oncorhynchus rhodurus) ovarian follicles: role of the thecal and granulosa cells. Gen Comp Endocrinol 47:440–448
Lam TJ, Pandey S, Nagahama Y, Hoar WS (1978) Endocrine control of oogenesis, ovulation and oviposition in goldfish. In: Gaillard P, Boer H (eds) Comparative endocrinology. Elsevier/ North-Holland Biomedical Press, New York
Margolis R, Wilson L (1977) Addition of colchicine-tubulin complex to microtubule ends: the mechanism of substoichiometric colchicine poisoning. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 74:3466–3470
Mrotek J, Hall P (1977) Response of adrenal tumor cells to adrenocorticotropin: site of inhibition by cytochalasin B. Biochemistry 16:3177–3181
Nagahama Y (1983) The functional morphology of teleost gonads. In: Hoar, Randall (eds) Fish physiology. Academic Press, New York, 9A:223–275
Quirk SJ, Willcox DL, Parry DM, Thorburn GD (1979) Subcellular location of progesterone in the bovine corpus luteum: a biochemical, morphological, and cytochemical investigation. Biol Reprod 20:1133–1145
Sawyer HR, Abel JH, McClellan MC, Schmitz M, Niswender GD (1979) Secretory granules and progesterone secretion by ovine corpora lutea in vitro. Endocrinology 104:476–486
Sinha A (1975) Comparative ultrastructure of the corpus luteum of implantation and pregnancy in carnivora. In: Hess M (ed) Electron microscopic concepts of secretion. John Wiley and Sons, New York, London, Sydney, Toronto, pp 53–69
Smith CJ, Haley SR (1987) Evidence of steroidogenesis in postovulatory follicles of the tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus. Cell Tissue Res 247:675–687
Smith CJ, Haley SR (1988) Steroid profiles of the female tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus, and correlation with oocyte growth and mouthbrooding behavior. Gen Comp Endocrinol 69:88–98
Spurr A (1969) A low viscosity epoxy resin embedding medium for electron microscopy. J Ultrastruct Res 26:31–43
Swanson P, Dickhoff W, Gorbman A (1987) Pituitary thyrotropin and gonadotropin of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch): separation by chromatofocusing. Gen Comp Endocrinol 65:269–287
Vahouny GV, Chanderbhan R, Noland BJ, Irwin D, Dennis P, Lambeth JD, Scallen TJ (1983) Sterol carrier protein2. Identification of adrenal sterol carrier protein and site of action for mitochondrial cholesterol utilization. J Biol Chem 258:11731–11737
Van Der Kraak G, Donaldson E (1986) Steroidogenic capacity of coho salmon ovarian follicles throughout the periovulatory period. Fish Physiol Biochem 1:179–186
Wessels N, Spooner B, Ash J, Bradley M, Luduena M, Taylor E, Wrenn J, Yamada K (1971) Microfilaments in cellular and developmental processes. Contractile microfilament machinery of many cell types is reversibly inhibited by cytochalasin B. Science 171:135–143
Wilson L, Bamburg J, Mizel S, Grisham L, Creswell K (1974) Interaction of drugs with microtubule proteins. Fed Proc 33:158–166
Young G, Crim L, Kagawa H, Kambegawa A, Nagahama Y (1983) Plasma 17a20B dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one levels during sexual maturation of amago salmon (Oncorhynchus rhodurus): correlation with plasma gonadotropin and in vitro production by ovarian follicles. Gen Comp Endocrinol 51:96–105
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Smith, C.J., Haley, S.R. In vitro stimulation and inhibition of steroid hormone release from postovulatory follicles of the tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus . Cell Tissue Res. 254, 439–447 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00225817
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00225817