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

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) α-subunit and FSH β-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.