MacCalman C D, Farookhi R, Blaschuk O W
Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Dev Genet. 1995;16(1):20-4. doi: 10.1002/dvg.1020160106.
N-cadherin (N-cad) is a calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecule which is present in the granulosa cells of the mouse ovarian follicle. This cell adhesion molecule has been implicated as a key modulator of follicular development. The regulators of N-cad mRNA levels in the ovary have not been identified. We have examined the ability of steroids to influence ovarian N-cad mRNA levels in vivo. Immature mice were injected with either progesterone, testosterone, 17 beta-estradiol, or 17 alpha-estradiol. Only 17 beta-estradiol caused a rapid and significant increase in the ovarian N-cad mRNA levels. We speculate that this steroid is a major regulator of N-cad-mediated granulosa cell interactions in vivo.
