Fibroblast and Epidermal Growth Factors are Mitogenic Agents for Cultured Granulosa Cells of Rodent, Porcine, and Human Origin*

Abstract

The mitogenic effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) on cultured granulosa cells of different species have been analyzed. EGF and FGF are potent mitogenic agents for rabbit, porcine, and human granulosa cell cultures. While guinea pig granulosa cell cultures respond to FGF, they were hardly effected by EGF. Rat granulosa cell cultures did not respond markedly to either EGF or FGF. Our results, therefore, demonstrate that the mitogenic effects of EGF and FGF are not restricted to granulosa cells of bovine origin and, with the exception of rat granulosa cells, cultured granulosa cells responded either to FGF alone or to both EGF and FGF with a marked increase in their rates of proliferation.