Since its inception in 1976, the overall goal of the Ovarian Workshop has been to bring together biologists from various disciplines so that they may collectively achieve a better understanding of the latest developments and define important problems in ovarian physiology. The Ovarian Workshop, which was pioneered by Dr. A. Rees Midgley, has developed into a major biennial meeting for investigators in the ovarian field. Largely as a consequence of advances in technology, especially in mo lecular biology, progress in the area of gene expression and signal transduc tion has been rapid. The Eighth Ovarian Workshop focused on two major topics: (1) the expression of hormonally and nonhormonally controlled genes involved in the functional and morphological differentiation of the cells forming the ovary and (2) the signaling mechanisms by which endogenous and exogenous hormones and cytokines affect ovarian differentiation and steroidogenesis. The Eighth Ovarian Workshop, held on the campus of Maryville College in Maryville, Tennessee, July 12 to 14, 1990, was again generously funded and coordinated by Serono Symposia, USA. I would especially like to thank Dr. Lisa Kern of Serono for her expert help in organizing this meeting. The board of directors of the Eighth Ovarian Workshop consisted of Drs. Eli Adashi, JoAnne Fortune, Anne Hirshfield, Aaron Hsueh, Julia Lobotsky, Gordon Niswender, David W. Schomberg, Richard Stouffer, and Jerry Strauss. Their valuable advice and the important roles they played in the planning of the scientific program are gratefully acknowledged.

Zusammenfassung
Proceedings of the Eighth Ovarian Workshop on Regulatory Processes and Gene Expression in the Ovary, sponsored by Serono Symposia, USA, held July 12 to 14, 1990 in Maryville, Tennessee

Inhalt
I. Gonadotropin Receptors and Transfactors.- 1. The Gonadotropin Receptors: Structural Insights Learned from the Cloning of Their cDNAs.- 2. Hormonal Regulation of Gonadotropin Gene Expression.- II. Signaling Pathways in the Ovary.- 3. Inositol Lipid Metabolism and Calcium Signaling in Rat Ovarian Cells.- 4. Interactions Among the cAMP and IP3/DAG Intracellular Signaling Systems in Bovine Luteal Cells.- 5. Variant Diacylglycerol-Dependent Protein Phosphotransferase Activity in Ovarian Tissues.- 6. Endocrine, Paracrine, and Autocrine Regulators of the Macaque Corpus Luteum.- 7. Steroid Signaling in the Follicular Paracrine System.- III. Hormonal Control and Gene Expression in the Ovary.- 8. Regulation of Inhibin and Activin Genes in the Rat Ovary.- 9. mos Proto-Oncogene Product and Cytostatic Factor.- 10. Regulation of Genes Encoding Steroidogenic Enzymes in the Ovary.- 11. Oxysterols: Regulation of Biosynthesis and Role in Controlling Cellular Cholesterol Homeostasis in Ovarian Cells.- IV. Relevance of Resident Ovarian White Blood Cells.- 12. Leukocyte Chemo-Attraction and Periovulatory Follicular Processes.- 13. The Role of IL-1 in the Ovary.- 14. Effects of Bacterial Endotoxin (Lipopolysaccharide) on FSH-Induced Granulosa Cell Activities.- 15. TNF ?: Altering Thecal and Granulosal Cell Steroidogenesis.- 16. TNF ? Modulation of Ovarian Steroidogenesis in the Rat.- 17. Inflammatory Cells in the Rabbit Corpus Luteum: Relationship to Luteal Involution.- V. Submitted Manuscripts.- 18. Two Populations of Steroidogenic Cells in the Theca Layer of Chicken Ovarian Follicles.- 19. Localization of mRNAs That Encode Steroidogenic Enzymes in Bovine Ovaries.- 20. Fetal Calf Serum: Eliciting Phosphorylation of Ca++/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase II in Cultured Rat GranulosaCells.- 21. Differential Regulation of Cytosolic-Free Calcium in Ovine Small and Large Luteal Cells: Effects on Secretion of Progesterone.- 22. Presence of an Endogenous Inhibitor of Protein Kinase C Throughout Pseudopregnancy in the Rat Ovary.- 23. Effects of Gonadotropins and PGE2 on Ovarian Adenylate Cyclase in Cellular Membrane from Mature Cyclic Cow.- 24. Sphingosine Derivatives, Calmodulin Inhibitors, and TMB-8: Inhibitors of Adenylate Cyclase Activity in Rat Luteal Membranes.- 25. Cadherins and Ovarian Follicular Development.- 26. Differential Regulation of 3?-HSD and 17? HSD Expression in Granulosa Cells.- 27. Pituitary Hormone Regulation of Ovarian 3?-HSD Gene Expression and Activity in the Rat.- 28. Molecular Cloning of Rat 3?-HSD: Structure of Two Types of cDNAs and Differential Expression of Corresponding mRNAs in the Ovary.- 29. The Signal Transduction System in Luteotrophic Stimulation of Expression of the 3?-HSD Gene in Porcine Granulosa Cells in Culture.- 30. Control of 3?-HSD mRNA and Activity During the Estrous Cycle in the Bovine Ovary.- 31. Expression of IGF-I and IGF-I Receptor Gene in the Corpus Luteum.- 32. Expression of IGF-I and IGF-I Receptor Gene in Transformed Luteal Cells.- 33. Relationships of Oocyte Quality and IGF-I in Follicular Fluid During the Estrual Period in Cattle and Effects of Pre-Estrual Progestins.- 34. Thecal Cell Luteinization In Vitro: Role of Insulin and IGF-I.- 35. Decreased Ovulation Rate Associated with Increased mRNA for Inhibin ?-Subunit in the Domestic Hen.- 36. Changes in Concentrations of Inhibin ?- and ?A-Subunit mRNAs During Maturation of Ovulatory Follicles in the Pig.- 37. Expression of Jun/AP-1 Superfamily Genes and Cell Cycle-Related Genes in Mitotically Active Rat Granulosa Cells.- 38. ProlactinRegulation and Developmental Expression of a 37,000 Mr Protein in the Corpus Luteum.- 39. Baboon Corpus Luteum Relaxin: Absence of Effect on Luteal Cell Progesterone Production.- 40. Relaxin Secretion by the Primate Corpus Luteum During Simulated Early Pregnancy in Hyperstimulated Menstrual Cycles.- 41. Physiological Role of Endogenously Derived PGF2? in Regulation of Corpus Luteum Function in the Rat.- 42. Expression and Tissue Specificity of an Abundant 32-kDa Protein Found in the Large Luteal Cell of the Pregnant Rat.- 43. Endometrial Secretory Products: Regulation of Hormonal Responsiveness of Rabbit Luteal Cells In Vitro.- 44. Baboon Corpus Luteum Oxytocin.- 45. Inhibitory Effects of In Vivo and In Vitro Treatment of a LHRH Antagonist (Nal-Lys Antide) on Progesterone Levels During Early Pregnancy in the Rat.- 46. Suppression of Luteal Production of Progesterone In Vitro by a GnRH Agonist During Pregnancy.- 47. Effects of Long-Term Treatment of a GnRH Agonist on Ovarian Function in the Rat.- 48. Modulation of the Steroidogenesis of Cultured Human Preovulatory Granulosa Cells by LHRH Analogs.- 49. Regulation of Ovarian Steroidogenesis in the Little Skate (Raja erinacea).- 50. Localization of Specific GnRH Receptors on Porcine Granulosa Cells and Mast Cells Within Ovarian Follicles.- 51. In Vitro Increase in Secretion of Oxytocin by Bovine Granulosa Cells After LH Surge.- 52. LH Stimulation of Ovarian Thecal-Interstitial Cell Differentiation: Sensitizing Effect of Angiotensin II.- 53. Influence of Lipoproteins on the Synthesis of Apo E by Rat Ovarian Granulosa Cells.- 54. Bovine Granulosa Cells Steroidogenesis In Vitro, I: Response to Androgens and Estrogens.- 55. Bovine Granulosa Cells Steroidogenesis In Vitro, II: Response to FSH, Forskolin, and IBMX.- 56.Sustained Estradiol Production by Porcine Granulosa Cells In Vitro.- 57. Initiation of Oocyte Maturation by Multiple Kinase Pathways.- 58. Effects of TNF ? and Prolactin: Increased hCG Binding in Human Granulosa Cells; Differential Interaction with hCG-Stimulated Progesterone Secretion.- 59. Follicular Progesterone Production Stimulated by TNF ? Is Modulated by PKC and Calcium.- 60. Flow Cytometric Analysis of Class I and II MHC Antigens on Ovine Luteal Cell Types.- 61. Thymulin (Serum Thymic Factor) Modulation of Porcine Granulosa Cell Responsiveness to Gonadotropins In Vitro.- Author Index.