Failure of hCG to reverse incipient atretic changes induced in granulosa cells of rat ovarian follicles.

Surface membrane changes in the granulosa cells from follicles at different times following a single dose of PMSG have been investigated after the incubation of cells in media with and without hCG by spectrophotometric measure of concanavalin A-induced cellular agglutination rate. Agglutination rate and final level of agglutination of cells do not change from 24 to 48 hr but significantly rise at 72, 96 and 120 hr after PMSG administration. Incubation of cells in presence of hCG for 20 min decrease the agglutination level of cells at 24, 48 and 72 hr and no significant change was observed at 96 and 120 hr. The results, thus suggest that atretic changes when induced in the surface membrane of granulosa cells (after 72 hr of PMSG administration) cannot be reversed with hCG.