Given the evident modulation of FSH-induced steroidogenesis by Ca 2ϩ in granulosa cells, we here test the hypothesis that Ca 2ϩ controls expression of the enzymatically rate-limiting cytochrome P450 scc (CYP11A) gene. To test this postulate, we quantitated the ability of Ca 2ϩ to regulate: 1) transcriptional activity of a transiently transfected luciferase reporter gene driven by a 2.32-kb 5Ј-upstream fragment of the porcine P450 scc gene promoter region; and 2) accumulation of endogenous P450 scc transcripts in primary monolayer cultures of porcine granulosa cells. To this end, granulosa cells were stimulated for 4 h with FSH (15 ng/ml, NIDDK-oFSH-20) or 8-Bromo-cAMP (8 Br-cAMP, 1 mM) in serum-free medium containing either 1.8 mM Ca 2ϩ or no added Ca 2ϩ with 100 M EGTA or 100 M CoCl 2 . In the presence of extracellular Ca 2ϩ , FSH and 8 Br-cAMP stimulated expression of the transfected P450 scc promoter-reporter fusion construct by 5.6 Ϯ 1.1 and 3.6 Ϯ 0.67-fold, respectively over Ca 2ϩ -containing unstimulated control (P Յ 0.04, n ϭ 5-6 experiments). The foregoing two agonists augmented 4-h progesterone production by cultured granulosa cells by 1.8 Ϯ 0.11 and 1.6 Ϯ 0.16-fold, respectively (P Յ 0.001 for FSH and P Յ 0.01 for 8 Br-cAMP). FSH and 8 Br-cAMP also significantly elevated endogenous P450 scc transcript levels as measured by homologous solution-hybridization RNase protection assay; i.e. by 3.1 Ϯ 0.49 and 2.9 Ϯ 0.45-fold, respectively (P Յ 0.001). In Ca 2ϩ -free/EGTA-supplemented medium, basal luciferase reportergene activity and endogenous P450 scc messenger RNA accumulation in granulosa cells declined to 34 Ϯ 12% and 78 Ϯ 12%, respectively, of corresponding values in control (unstimulated Ca 2ϩ -containing) cultures. Extracellular Ca 2ϩ deprivation inhibited the stimulatory effect of FSH (and 8 Br-cAMP) on P450 scc promoter-luciferase reporter expression to 58 Ϯ 30% (and 58 Ϯ 23%), and restrained endogenous P450 scc message accumulation to 86 Ϯ 15% (and 96 Ϯ 18%) of the value in Ca 2ϩ -containing control. Extracellular Ca 2ϩ withdrawal suppressed FSH (and 8 Br-cAMP)-driven progesterone production over 4 h to basal levels but did not alter FSH-stimulated cAMP accumulation by granulosa cells. Ca 2ϩ -deprived cells exposed to serumcontaining media regained P450 scc responsiveness to both agonists. Antagonism of cellular uptake of Ca 2ϩ and other divalent cations via administration of cobalt chloride (100 M) inhibited FSH and 8 BrcAMP's stimulation of endogenous (but not exogenous promoterdriven) P450 scc gene expression. In contrast, granulosa-cell concentrations of messenger RNA's encoding sterol-carrier protein-2 (SCP-2) and the low density lipoprotein receptor were not altered by Ca 2ϩ withdrawal.In summary, uptake of extracellular Ca 2ϩ by porcine granulosa cells significantly potentiates transactivation of the endogenously expressed and exogenously transfected P450scc gene by FSH and 8 Br-cAMP. The agonistic impact of Ca 2ϩ on P450 scc promoter activity is requisite downstream of FSH-induced c...