Inhibition of estradiol-17 beta secretion in ovarian granulosa cells by an extract from the submandibular gland of the rat.

The submandibular salivary gland (SMG) in the rodent is a rich source of growth factors. The estradiol-17 beta (E2) secretions were studied in the primary cultures of ovarian granulosa cells from sialoadenectomized (surgical removal of SMG, SDX) immature rats. The secretions of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were also studied in the primary cultures of anterior pituitary cells from SDX rats. E2 secretion from the ovarian granulosa cells of SDX rats was not affected by male and female SMG extracts. FSH-stimulated E2 secretion, however, was inhibited by the SMG extracts. Substances in the SMG extract, which inhibited FSH-stimulated E2 secretion in the cells, were heat and urea stable, and were not stripped by charcoal. SMG extracts did not affect the secretions of LH and FSH in the anterior pituitary cells, with or without luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone. The present findings suggest that male and female rat SMG contain the E2 modulating factor which affect ovarian granulosa cells.