α-1 and β-1 Thyroid Hormone Receptors on Human Granulosa Cells

Each of the two functional thyroid receptors, namely, TRα and TRβ, has two isoforms: (1) TRα-1 and TRvα-2 and (2) TRβ-1 and TRβ-2. Using antibody TR113, known to react specifically with human TRα-1, TRvα-2, and TRβ-1, this chapter discusses binding of this antibody to human granulosa cells. The purpose of a study described in the chapter was to determine the relative binding of anti-TRα-1 and anti-TRβ-1 antibodies in human granulosa cells and compare serum thyroid hormone levels and follicular fluid hormone levels for individual women. Follicular fluids and granulosa cells were obtained from women undergoing oocyte retrieval at IVF-America/Allegheny General Hospital. The age of the women ranged between 28 and 42 years and all were in good health. Superovulation was achieved using human menopausal gonadotropins with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist down-regulation. Coulter Immuno software, which subtracts a control fluorescence profile from the test fluorescence profile when two flow-cytometric runs are superimposed, was used to quantitatively determine the presence of cells binding with each antibody.