FSH induced stimulation of catalase activity in goat granulosa cells in vitro

Reactive oxygen species scavenging enzymes like catalase play diverse role in mammals. The presence of catalase in mammalian ovary is now well established. In the present investigation, changes in catalase activity in granulosa cells isolated from follicles at various stages of differentiation in response to FSH were studied. The follicles were dissected out from goat ovaries and classified as small (<3 mm), medium (3–6 mm) or large (>6 mm). Granulosa cells were isolated from categorized follicles. Results showed that there was a three-fold increase in catalase activity in granulosa cells from large follicles as compared to small and medium follicles. The catalase activity was stimulated significantly when granulosa cells were treated with FSH in vitro. The minimum effective dose that could stimulate catalase activity and estradiol secretion in case of granulosa cells from small and medium sized follicles was 100 ng/ml; for larger follicles, this value was 200 ng/ml. Concomitant to the increase in catalase activity, the estradiol secretion was significantly enhanced when cultured goat granulosa cells were treated with FSH. It was concluded that enzyme catalase may have a functional role in goat ovarian follicular development under endocrine regulation.