ArticleReproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E2009
Identification and characterization of Ca2+-activated K+ channels in granulosa cells of the human ovary.
Article in Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E, 2009. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 12 citations in OpenAlex.
- Beyond apoptosis: evidence of other regulated cell death pathways in the ovary throughout development and life.Human reproduction update · 2023Pooled it
- Extracellular acidity and ATP modulate ion currents in human cumulus cells indicating possible roles as metabolic sensors of the follicular microenvironment.Physiological reports · 2026Article
- Aromatase and nonaromatase neurons in the zebra finch secondary auditory forebrain are indistinct in their song-driven gene induction and intrinsic electrophysiological properties.The European journal of neuroscience · 2021Article
- Role of potassium channels in female reproductive system.Obstetrics & gynecology science · 2020Article
- Electrophysiological Responses to Different Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Isoforms on Human Cumulus Oophorus Cells: Preliminary Results.Revista brasileira de ginecologia e obstetricia : revista da Federacao Brasileira das Sociedades de Ginecologia e Obstetricia · 2018Article
- Readthrough acetylcholinesterase (AChE-R) and regulated necrosis: pharmacological targets for the regulation of ovarian functions?Cell death & disease · 2015Article
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5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
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Abstract
backgroundGranulosa cells (GCs) represent a major endocrine compartment of the ovary producing sex steroid hormones. Recently, we identified in human GCs a Ca2+-activated K+ channel (K(Ca)) of big conductance (BK(Ca)), which is involved in steroidogenesis. This channel is activated by intraovarian signalling molecules (e.g. acetylcholine) via raised intracellular Ca2+ levels. In this study, we aimed at characterizing 1. expression and functions of K(Ca) channels (including BK(Ca) beta-subunits), and 2. biophysical properties of BK(Ca) channels.
methodsGCs were obtained from in vitro-fertilization patients and cultured. Expression of mRNA was determined by standard RT-PCR and protein expression in human ovarian slices was detected by immunohistochemistry. Progesterone production was measured in cell culture supernatants using ELISAs. Single channels were recorded in the inside-out configuration of the patch-clamp technique.
resultsWe identified two K(Ca) types in human GCs, the intermediate- (IK) and the small-conductance K(Ca) (SK). Their functionality was concluded from attenuation of human chorionic gonadotropin-stimulated progesterone production by K(Ca) blockers (TRAM-34, apamin). Functional IK channels were also demonstrated by electrophysiological recording of single K(Ca) channels with distinctive features. Both, IK and BK(Ca) channels were found to be simultaneously active in individual GCs. In agreement with functional data, we identified mRNAs encoding IK, SK1, SK2 and SK3 in human GCs and proteins of IK and SK2 in corresponding human ovarian cells. Molecular characterization of the BK(Ca) channel revealed the presence of mRNAs encoding several BK(Ca) beta-subunits (beta2, beta3, beta4) in human GCs. The multitude of beta-subunits detected might contribute to variations in Ca2+ dependence of individual BK(Ca) channels which we observed in electrophysiological recordings.
conclusionFunctional and molecular studies indicate the presence of active IK and SK channels in human GCs. Considering the already described BK(Ca), they express all three K(Ca) types known. We suggest that the plurality and co-expression of different K(Ca) channels and BK(Ca) beta-subunits might allow differentiated responses to Ca2+ signals over a wide range caused by various intraovarian signalling molecules (e.g. acetylcholine, ATP, dopamine). The knowledge of ovarian K(Ca) channel properties and functions should help to understand the link between endocrine and paracrine/autocrine control in the human ovary.
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