5 h at room temperature with a polyclonal goat anti rabbit IgG HRP conjugated immunoglobulin diluted in 5% Marvel in TBS Tween. The secondary antibody was removed and the blot was washed 5 times each for 7 min in TBS Tween. Protein bands were detected using enhanced chemiluminescence according to manufacturers instructions and using auto radiography. Auto radiographic images of the blots were scanned and the relative intensity of the protein bands was measured using Scion Image software. Back ground intensity, measured as intensity of area adjacent to selected band, was subtracted from individual values. Within experiments, samples from all treatments were included in each blot to prevent blot to blot bias.

Statistical analysis In Experiments 1 and 2, hormone concentration and cell number data were analysed by analysis of variance using GLM procedures of SAS and differences between individ ual treatments were assessed using Tukeys HSD. All val ues inhibitor GNE-0877 are given as the mean SEM. In Experiment 3, follicular fluid oestradiol concentrations and diameters of treated follicles and control follicles were compared from before treatment to after treatment using a paired Students t test. Analysis of variance using the GLM proce dures of SAS was used to determine the effects of treat ment on the levels of Akt, p Akt, Erk and p Erk in granulosa and theca cells. All values are given as the mean SEM. Results Experiment 1 Effects of FSH and IGF on hormone secretion, cell number and levels of Akt and Erk in granulosa cells in vitro Cells treated with FSH or IGF alone showed an increase in the secretion of inhibin A, activin A, follista tin and oestradiol, and cell numbers over basal levels.

Progesterone selleck inhibitor secretion was unaffected by FSH treatment alone but was increased from cells treated with IGF alone. Co treatment of granu losa cells with FSH and IGF resulted in enhanced secretion of inhibin A, activin A, follistatin and pro gesterone and cell number over and above those from cells treated with either compound alone. In contrast, oestradiol secretion from granulosa cells treated with FSH and IGF in combination was similar to that from cells treated with FSH or IGF alone. Only FSH plus IGF in combination stimulated an increase in the levels of total Akt compared to the con trol. Treatment with FSH produced an increase in phospho Akt compared to control but FSH plus IGF induced an even greater increase in phospho Akt than FSH alone.

All treatments increased total Erk levels compared to the control with no differences between treatments. Levels of phos pho Erk were similar among all groups except levels were lower in the IGF than the FSH IGF treatment groups. Experiment 2 Effects of inhibition of the Akt and Erk signalling pathways on FSH and IGF action on granulosa cells The stimulatory effects of FSH, IGF or their combination were similar to that seen in experiment 1.