Hyaluronan synthesis by mouse cumulus cells is regulated by interactions between follicle-stimulating hormone (or epidermal growth factor) and a soluble oocyte factor (or transforming growth factor beta1).

Expansion of the cumulus cell-oocyte complex (COC) in the preovulatory mammalian follicle requires a transient induction of hyaluronan (HA) synthesis by the cumulus cells. We studied the interactions of known factors that regulate this process by isolating compact COCs from mice and inducing their expansion in vitro. Maximum HA synthesis requires either follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) or epidermal growth factor (EGF) in combination with either a soluble factor(s) produced by the oocyte or transforming growth factor beta1. FSH (or EGF) exerts its effects during the first 2 h of incubation, before HA synthesis actually begins. The oocyte factor(s) (or transforming growth factor beta1) exerts its effects from 2 h onwards and must be continuously present throughout the subsequent approximately 10 h to achieve a maximum level of HA synthesis. FSH stimulates intracellular cAMP synthesis, which correlates with net HA production up to approximately 14 fmol/COC at 5 ng/ml FSH; however, higher concentrations of FSH increase cAMP levels approximately 10-fold higher with no additional effect on HA synthesis. EGF at saturating concentrations for HA synthesis does not stimulate cAMP above basal levels. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors genistein and tyrphostin AG18 nearly abolish the HA synthesis response to EGF and inhibit the response to FSH by approximately 60%, suggesting that a tyrosine kinase activity is involved for both factors, whereas FSH also operates partially through another signaling pathway. Actinomycin D abolishes HA synthesis if added at the beginning of culture and reduces HA synthesis by approximately 50% if added between 6-12 h when HA synthesis is normally maximal. The results suggest that regulation of HA synthesis is primarily controlled at the transcriptional level.