Testosterone Influences Water Transport in Porcine Granulosa Cells
Year: 2013
Type: article
Abstract: The development of antral ovarian follicles entails fluid accumulation, but the mechanisms regulating water flux are unknown. Aquaporins are small, integral membrane proteins facilitating passive movement of water, some of which are known to be regulated by steroid hormones. The aim of this study was to determine whether testosterone (T) influences water transport in porcine granulosa cells. To assess water movement, the swelling of granulosa cells when moved from isotonic (319 mOsm) to hypotonic (95 mOsm) medium was measured after 12-hour pre-incubation in the presence of either testosterone (T), the antiandrogen 2-hydroxyflutamide (HF) or HF and T together. Pre-incubation with T increased the swelling of granulosa cells (p < 0.01) and this was abolished by HF (p < 0.001). Neither T nor HF affected cells in isotonic medium (319 mOsm). The results indicate that T acting via intracellular androgen receptors increases water permeability of porcine granulosa cells, probably through the regulation of aquaporin activity.
Source: Reproduction in Domestic Animals
DOI: 10.1111/rda.12161
Authors: M Grzesiak, L Williams, MR Luck
Institutions: Jagiellonian University, University of Nottingham
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1983395267