The proposal is divided into 7 specific aims. The overall goal of the proposal is to identify the cellular mechanisms that control granulosa cell viability. The investigator has generated preliminary data that both basic fibroblast growth factor, acting through a paracrine or autocrine mechanism and cell contact interact to regulate granulosa cell viability. The cell contact component of this mechanism appears to be mediated via N--cadherin, not by gap junction proteins. Interestingly, the investigators have generated preliminary data which suggests N-cadherin interacts with the receptor for bFGF. This observation suggests that adhesion molecules may modulate cell viability by altering signal transduction through growth factor receptors. This is an interesting general principle in biology which deserves more detailed investigation. As noted above, the proposal is divided into 7 specific aims.
In Specific Aim 1, the investigator will determine if a synthetic peptide (LRAHAVDVNG), derived from an amino acid sequence found within the extracellular domains of both the FGF receptor and N-cadherin attenuates bFGF's ability to induce granulosa cell aggregation and maintain granulosa cell viability.
In Specific Aim 2, the investigator plans to determine if the N-cadherin antibody prevents bFGF from binding to its receptor.
In Specific Aim 3, the investigator will determine if bFGF binds to its receptor and causes the formation of an N-cadherin/FGF receptor complex.
In Specific Aim 4, the investigator will determine if N-cadherin antibody attenuates bFGF's ability to stimulate tyrosine phosphorylation of its receptor as well as other proteins.
In Specific Aim 5, the investigator will determine if N-cadherin antibody disrupts the actin cytoskeleton of the granulosa cell and thereby induces apoptosis without or prior to altering protein tyrosine phosphorylation.
In Specific Aim 6, the investigator will determine if bFGF reduces granulosa cell apoptosis and induces granulosa cell aggregation by regulating the expression of tyrosine phosphorylation status and/or cellular localization of N-cadherin and the associated catenins.
In Specific Aim 7, the investigator will determine the protein levels of bFGF, FGF receptor, N-cadherin, and catenins in atretic and non-atretic follicles. The investigator hopes that these studies will provide new insights into the cellular mechanism through which bFGF and granulosa contact interact to regulate granulosa cell viability.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01HD033467-01A2
Application #
2025720
Study Section
Reproductive Biology Study Section (REB)
Project Start
1996-12-01
Project End
2000-11-30
Budget Start
1996-12-01
Budget End
1997-11-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1997
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Connecticut
Department
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
Farmington
State
CT
Country
United States
Zip Code
06030
Peluso, John J (2003) Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) regulation of the plasma membrane calcium ATPase (PMCA) as part of an anti-apoptotic mechanism of action. Biochem Pharmacol 66:1363-9
Peluso, J J; Pappalardo, A; Fernandez, G (2001) E-cadherin-mediated cell contact prevents apoptosis of spontaneously immortalized granulosa cells by regulating Akt kinase activity. Biol Reprod 64:1183-90
Peluso, J J; Pappalardo, A; Fernandez, G (2001) Basic fibroblast growth factor maintains calcium homeostasis and granulosa cell viability by stimulating calcium efflux via a PKC delta-dependent pathway. Endocrinology 142:4203-11
Peluso, J J; Pappalardo, A; Hess, S A (2000) Effect of disrupting cell contact on the nuclear accumulation of beta-catenin and subsequent apoptosis of rat ovarian surface epithelial cells in vitro. Endocrine 12:295-302
Lail-Trecker, M R; Peluso, C E; Peluso, J J (2000) Hepatocyte growth factor disrupts cell contact and stimulates an increase in type 3 inositol triphosphate receptor expression, intracellular calcium levels, and apoptosis of rat ovarian surface epithelial cells. Endocrine 12:303-14
Lynch, K; Fernandez, G; Pappalardo, A et al. (2000) Basic fibroblast growth factor inhibits apoptosis of spontaneously immortalized granulosa cells by regulating intracellular free calcium levels through a protein kinase Cdelta-dependent pathway. Endocrinology 141:4209-17
Peluso, J J (2000) N-cadherin-mediated cell contact regulates ovarian surface epithelial cell survival. Biol Signals Recept 9:115-21
Peluso, J J; Pappalardo, A (1999) Progesterone maintains large rat granulosa cell viability indirectly by stimulating small granulosa cells to synthesize basic fibroblast growth factor. Biol Reprod 60:290-6
Hess, S; Gulati, R; Peluso, J J (1999) Hepatocyte growth factor induces rat ovarian surface epithelial cell mitosis or apoptosis depending on the presence or absence of an extracellular matrix. Endocrinology 140:2908-16
Lail-Trecker, M; Gulati, R; Peluso, J J (1998) A role for hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor in regulating normal and neoplastic cells of reproductive tissues. J Soc Gynecol Investig 5:114-21