Metalloproteinase activity during growth, maturation and atresia in the ovarian follicles of the goat.

Metalloproteinases are an important group of hydrolytic enzymes which participate in interstitial matrix degradation during tissue remodelling processes and therefore may be required during follicular growth and maturation. The activity of metalloproteinases (collagenases, gelatinase, and Pz-peptidase), was measured during growth, maturation and atresia of goat antral follicles. These follicles (n = 67) were separated by size and also classified into four groups: non-atretic (Group I); early atretic (Stage I) (Group II); moderately atretic (Stage II) (Group IIIa); and, late atretic (Stage III) (Group IIIb). Pz-peptidase was greater in granulosa than in thecal cells, and almost absent in follicular fluid. In non-atretic follicles, activity in granulosa cells increased with increasing follicle size, whereas activity peaked in 3-6 mm follicles in thecal cells. Atresia was associated with declining activity in thecal cells from follicles in the 3-6 mm range and in granulosa cells from the > 6 mm range. Interstitial collagenase activity was significant and similar in granulosa and thecal cell extracts and low in follicular fluid from non-atretic follicles. Activity increased significantly in thecal cells, but decreased significantly in granulosa cells from large (> 6 mm) non-atretic follicles. Atresia was associated with declining activity in both types cells and increasing activity in follicular fluid. Gelatinase activity was some times associated with five regions corresponding to molecular weights of 22.1, 30.7, 39.6, 63.8 and 71.4 kDa, and rarely at 91.3 and 81.2 kDa. Overall activity declined with atresia in thecal cells from follicles in the 3-6 mm range, but not in those > 6 mm. In granulosa cells from follicles 3-6 mm, activity varied widely with stage of atresia, while in cells from follicles > 6 mm, activity was greatly increased in atretic follicles.