Redmer D A, Grazul-Bilska A T, Reynolds L P
Department of Animal and Range Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo 58105.
Endocrinology. 1991 Nov;129(5):2757-66. doi: 10.1210/endo-129-5-2757.
Mammalian gap junctions permit exchange of nutrients, ions, and regulatory molecules of less than 1.5 kDa among contacting communication-competent cells and may be important for regulation of luteal function and maintenance of luteal homeostasis. The present studies were designed to evaluate gap junction-mediated intercellular communication between bovine luteal cells in culture. Using a dye-coupling technique along with interactive laser cytometry, selected luteal cells were studied for the rate of contact-dependent fluorescence redistribution after photobleaching. The rate of communication, reported as the rate of fluorescence recovery (percentage per min), was determined for steroidogenic cells as follows: 1) small luteal cells contacting only small luteal cells, 2) large luteal cells contacting only small luteal cells, and 3) large luteal cells contacting only large luteal cells. In addition, the effects of known regulators of luteal function [LH, prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF), and forskolin] on the rate of intercellular communication were determined. Small luteal cells communicated rapidly with each other, exhibiting an initial rate of fluorescence recovery of 4.1 +/- 0.1%/min (n = 187). The rate of small cell-small cell communication was unaffected by LH and PGF. For large luteal cells contacting small luteal cells, however, LH and PGF stimulated (P less than 0.02) the rate of communication compared with no hormone [1.6 +/- 0.2 (n = 18) and 1.5 +/- 0.6 (n = 20) vs. 0.8 +/- 0.3%/min (n = 27), respectively]. LH and PGF in combination, however, did not enhance the rate (0.6 +/- 0.2%/min; n = 19) of large cell-small cell communication. In contrast, forskolin significantly stimulated both small cell-small cell and large cell-small cell communication rates compared with no forskolin [34% increase (n = 48) and 50% increase (n = 23), respectively]. Large luteal cells did not communicate with each other under any condition tested. Transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of numerous gap junction-like structures in bovine luteal cells in culture. These data suggest that luteal cells are capable of intercellular communication and that the rate of communication may be influenced by hormones. Contact-dependent intercellular communication among luteal cells may, therefore, play a significant role in the regulation of luteal function.
哺乳动物的间隙连接允许营养物质、离子以及分子量小于1.5 kDa的调节分子在相互接触且具备通讯能力的细胞之间交换，这对于黄体功能的调节和黄体稳态的维持可能具有重要意义。本研究旨在评估培养的牛黄体细胞之间间隙连接介导的细胞间通讯。采用染料偶联技术结合交互式激光细胞术，对选定的黄体细胞进行光漂白后接触依赖性荧光再分布速率的研究。以荧光恢复速率（每分钟百分比）表示的通讯速率，针对类固醇生成细胞按以下情况测定：1）仅小黄体细胞相互接触；2）大黄体细胞仅与小黄体细胞接触；3）大黄体细胞仅相互接触。此外，还测定了已知黄体功能调节因子[促黄体生成素（LH）、前列腺素F2α（PGF）和福斯可林]对细胞间通讯速率的影响。小黄体细胞彼此之间通讯迅速，荧光恢复的初始速率为4.1±0.
