Cadherins, a family of Ca(2+)-dependent cell adhesion molecules, play an important role in ovarian tissue remodelling processes. The aim of this study was to examine the expression pattern of E- and N-cadherin in rat preovulatory follicles, luteinizing follicles and corpora lutea. Immature female rats were treated with equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG) to promote preovulatory follicle development. At 48 h after eCG treatment, the rats were injected with an ovulatory dose of hCG. Ovaries were analysed by western blot analysis and immunofluorescence for E- and N-cadherin expression at 48 h after eCG injection, and at 24 and 72 h after hCG injection. Ovaries of cyclic adult rats were examined to assess whether the changes in the expression pattern of cadherin were in agreement with those of the gonadotrophin-treated rats. Finally, expression of E-cadherin in luteinizing granulosa cells in vitro was assessed by RT-PCR and western blot analysis. Immunofluorescence results indicate that E-cadherin is expressed in the theca-interstial cells surrounding preovulatory follicles. N-cadherin expression is prominent in the membrana granulosa of these follicles. The initiation of luteinization with hCG leads to a decreased expression of N-cadherin in the membrana granulosa, whereas expression of E-cadherin starts within the luteinizing follicle. Both cadherins are prominently expressed in the fully formed corpus luteum at 72 h after hCG treatment. Immunofluorescence results revealed that the patterns of E- and N-cadherin expression in the gonadotrophin-treated rats were similar to those of the cyclic adult rats. Western blot analysis reflected similar changes for N-cadherin in the ovaries of both the cyclic adults and gonadotrophin-treated rats; however, they were different in E-cadherin expression. The expression of E-cadherin mRNA and protein was induced in vitro in luteinized granulosa cells. These results support the hypothesis that modulation of cadherin expression is an integral component of remodelling processes, including corpus luteum formation, in the ovary. The results also indicate that expression of E- and N-cadherin in granulosa-lutein cells appear to be under hormonal control.