Physiological Reviews, Vol 72, 731-787, Copyright © 1992 by American Physiological Society

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Nonsteroidal signals originating in the gonads

J. F. Ackland, N. B. Schwartz, K. E. Mayo and R. E. Dodson
Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois.

The discovery of the various peptide factors in the gonads followed different paths. A number of factors were specifically searched for because of physiological experiments that predicted that an activity from the gonads was necessary to explain phenomena. Such was the case for gonadal steroids and for such peptide factors as inhibin, MIS, OMI, FRP, seminal plasma inhibin, relaxin, PA factor and other proteases, and ABP. In the process other factors such as activin and follistatin were serendipitously discovered. A second group of factors was discovered because in vitro experiments of various combinations of gonadal cell types failed to replicate in vivo findings, suggesting missing signals. Such substances are the panoply of growth factors aiding in differentiation and growth promotion and inhibition: LS and LI, P-Mod-S, clusterin, and various components of the ECM. Finally, and most recently, another set of peptides has been identified because immunological or molecular probes have been used to search gonadal tissue for factors originally discovered elsewhere; these include POMC, GnRH-like peptide, oxytocin, AVP, angiotensin, ANF, CRF, neural peptides, and c-mos. Our understanding of the relationship of most of these peptides to the local signals necessary for gonadal function is still very elementary. Clearly some like relaxin and inhibin function as important hormones, and ABP, for example, probably functions importantly in transporting testosterone down the tubule. Most local paracrine or autocrine peptide signals appear to act in relationship to gonadotropin levels probably in local differentiation in the process of gamete maturation, but this is only conjecture at this point. No experimental verification that any of these factors is involved in follicle selection for recruitment or for atresia is yet available. For many of the factors local receptors have not yet been identified. The richness of the variety of peptides in the gonads suggests that microanalysis of cell-cell signaling would be rewarding, but at the time of this writing such investigations are not yet possible.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. Lee, Y. I. Jeong, S. M. Park, J. Y. Lee, J. H. Kim, S. W. Park, M S Hossein, Y. W. Jeong, S. Kim, S. H. Hyun, et al. Beneficial effects of brain-derived neurotropic factor on in vitro maturation of porcine oocytes Reproduction, September 1, 2007; 134(3): 405 - 414. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. Morales, I. Gonzalez-Robayna, M. P. Santana, I. Hernandez, and L. F. Fanjul Tumor Necrosis Factor-{alpha} Activates Transcription of Inducible Repressor Form of 3',5'-Cyclic Adenosine 5'-Monophosphate-Responsive Element Binding Modulator and Represses P450 Aromatase and Inhibin {alpha}-Subunit Expression in Rat Ovarian Granulosa Cells by a p44/42 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase-Dependent Mechanism Endocrinology, December 1, 2006; 147(12): 5932 - 5939. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Tajima, M. Orisaka, K. Hosokawa, A. Amsterdam, and F. Kotsuji Effects of Ovarian Theca Cells on Apoptosis and Proliferation of Granulosa Cells: Changes During Bovine Follicular Maturation Biol Reprod, June 1, 2002; 66(6): 1635 - 1639. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. T. Grazul-Bilska, L. P. Reynolds, J. J. Bilski, and D. A. Redmer Effects of Second Messengers on Gap Junctional Intercellular Communication of Ovine Luteal Cells Throughout the Estrous Cycle Biol Reprod, September 1, 2001; 65(3): 777 - 783. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Soboloff, H. Sasaki, and B.K. Tsang Follicular Stage-Dependent Tumor Necrosis Factor {alpha}-Induced Hen Granulosa Cell Integrin Production and Survival in the Presence of Transforming Growth Factor {alpha} In Vitro Biol Reprod, August 1, 2001; 65(2): 477 - 487. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Slominski, J. Wortsman, T. Luger, R. Paus, and S. Solomon Corticotropin Releasing Hormone and Proopiomelanocortin Involvement in the Cutaneous Response to Stress Physiol Rev, July 1, 2000; 80(3): 979 - 1020. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Yada, K. Hosokawa, K. Tajima, Y. Hasegawa, and F. Kotsuji Role of Ovarian Theca and Granulosa Cell Interaction in Hormone Productionand Cell Growth During the Bovine Follicular Maturation Process Biol Reprod, December 1, 1999; 61(6): 1480 - 1486. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. M. Lee, C. C. Seah, P. T. Masiakos, C. M. Sottas, F. I. Preffer, P. K. Donahoe, D. T. MacLaughlin, and M. P. Hardy Mullerian-Inhibiting Substance Type II Receptor Expression and Function in Purified Rat Leydig Cells Endocrinology, June 1, 1999; 140(6): 2819 - 2827. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. Soboloff, A. Sorisky, M. Desilets, and B.K. Tsang Acyl Chain Length-Specific Ceramide-Induced Changes in Intracellular Ca2+ Concentration and Progesterone Production Are Not Regulated by Tumor Necrosis Factor {alpha} in Hen Granulosa Cells Biol Reprod, February 1, 1999; 60(2): 262 - 271. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Gnessi, A. Fabbri, and G. Spera Gonadal Peptides as Mediators of Development and Functional Control of the Testis: An Integrated System with Hormones and Local Environment Endocr. Rev., August 1, 1997; 18(4): 541 - 609. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Ray and S. Melmed Pituitary Cytokine and Growth Factor Expression and Action Endocr. Rev., April 1, 1997; 18(2): 206 - 228. [Abstract] [Full Text]