In the accompanying paper we described the induction of apoptosis by extended cyclic AMP (cAMP)-mediated signals in primary granulosa cells and the reduction in this process in transformed cells expressing SV40 T antigen. In the present work, we examined the effect of overexpression of either wild-type or mutant p53 on cAMP-mediated apoptosis in steroidogenic granulosa cell lines transfected with SV40 DNA together with the Ha-ras oncogene and a temperature-sensitive variant of p53, p53val135. In cell lines expressing low amounts of T antigen and high amounts of p53val135, growth arrest was induced by transferring the cells from 37.5 degrees to 32 degrees C, a temperature which allows the manifestation of the wild-type phenotype of p53 and the induction of the WAF1 gene. While nonstimulated cells showed only a very modest apoptotic process, rapid and massive apoptosis was evident in cells stimulated by forskolin at 32 degrees C. The presence of serum could delay, but not abolish, this phenomenon. Progesterone production in such cells treated with cAMP was significantly higher at 32 degrees C than at 37.5 degrees C, suggesting that wild-type p53 can also enhance granulosa cell differentiation. Furthermore, at least at early stages, apoptosis is correlated with increased cell differentiation. On the other hand, in lines expressing high amounts of T antigen and low amounts of p53, neither an increase in cAMP-induced differentiation nor massive apoptosis was seen at 32 degrees C. These findings demonstrate that wild-type p53 can cooperate with cAMP-generated signals in the induction of steroidogenesis and of programmed cell death in granulosa cells.