Highly expressed recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone from Chinese hamster ovary cells grown in serum-free medium and its effect on induction of folliculogenesis and ovulation

Abstract

Objective: To develop efficient Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells that express recombinant human FSH (rhFSH) in serum-free conditions and to investigate the effect of this newly synthesized rhFSH on folliculogenesis and ovulation. Design: Experimental study. Setting: Seoul National University, South Korea. Animals: Forty immature hypophysectomized rats and 40 androgen-sterilized mice. Intervention(s): A stable single CHO cell that expresses rhFSH at a high level was obtained by introducing the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) alpha-subunit and FSH beta-subunit genes. After purification processing, we investigated the effect of this newly synthesized rhFSH on folliculogenesis in hypophysectomized rats and ovulation in androgen-sterilized mice. Main Outcome Measure(s): The ovary weight, uterine weight, number of follicles, and ovarian morphology were evaluated in immature hypophysectomized rats. The number of ovulated oocytes and ovarian morphology were examined in androgen-sterilized mice. Result(s): After purification processing, we analyzed the new rhFSH using matrix-associated laser desorption ionization-time of flight and found that this new rhFSH increased both ovarian weight and uterine weight in hypophysectomized rats and induced ovulation in androgen-sterilized mice. Conclusion(s): This newly synthesized rhFSH might be safely used in anovulatory infertile woman as well as in ovulation induction protocols for subfertile women. (Fertil Steril (R) 2010; 93: 2652-60. (C) 2010 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)