Steroids and follicular rupture at ovulation

A. Tsafriri*, A. O. Abisogun, R. Reich

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

The preovulatory surge of gonadotropins stimulates follocular steroidogenesis and changes from estrogen as the major product to progesterone. We shall overview the studies dealing with the role of ovarian steroidogenesis in follicular rupture at ovulation. Several inhibitors of steroidogenesis blocked follicular rupture in vivo. Likewise, RU 38486 partially blocked ovulation triggered by hCG. Collectively, these data support the knowledge that follicular steroidogenesis is required for ovulation. Recent studies confirmed the essential role of plasminogen activator (PA) in follicular rupture. The LH stimulation of PA activity was partially blocked by several inhibitors of steroidogenesis and it could be restored by the addition of progesterone, testosterone and estradiol-17β, but not the non-aromatizable 5α-dihydrotestosterone. Gonadotropic stimulation enhanced only the synthesis of tissue type PA (t-PA) and not that of urokinase. Likewise, inhibition of steroidogenesis, reduced only the synthesis of t-PA and was reversed by addition of estradiol-17β. It seems, therefore, that follicular steroids, most probably estrogen, are involved in the preovulatory rise in follicular t-PA activity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)359-363
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Steroid Biochemistry
Volume27
Issue number1-3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1987
Externally publishedYes

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