EFFECT OF CADMIUM ON MORPHOLOGY AND STEROIDOGENESIS OF CULTURED HUMANOVARIAN GRANULOSA-CELLS

Cadmium (Cd) is able to decrease preovulatory luteinizing hormone (LH) levels in blood and inhibit ovulation in rats, In this study the dire ct effects of Cd on steroidogenesis in granulosa cells were investigat ed, The cells obtained from ovarian follicular aspirates of 41 women u ndergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) were cultured, Cadmium-induced alterations in the cellular morphology and in the production of proges terone by the cells was determined after exposure to concentrations of 8, 16, 32 and 64 mu M CdCl2 for 2, 4, 8, 24 and 48 h, Progesterone se cretion by granulosa cells could be stimulated with increasing concent rations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Combined effects of Cd and FSH were also studied, Cadmium diminished progesterone production in unstimulated and FSH-supported cells depending on its concentration and the exposure time, Follicle-stimulating hormone (100 ng ml(-1)) p rotected against Cd-induced suppression of progesterone production, Ca dmium interfered with cell-cell junctions and the adherence of cells, No protective effect of FSH on Cd-induced alteration in cell morpholog y could be observed, Retraction of cytoplasmic extensions occurred at a lower dose and within a shorter exposure than a decrease in progeste rone production, In conclusion, Cd exerted a direct effect on both gra nulosa cell morphology and on steroid biosynthesis. The lowest Cd conc entration (16 mu M) that was able to reduce progesterone production wa s about 3.5 times higher than levels reported in the ovary of a female smoker, The presented data can help to define environmental, occupati onal and life-style (smoking) risk factors in gonadal function during the preconception period of the female reproductive lifespan, (C) 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.