An. Wakim et al., AUGMENTATION BY THYROXINE OF HUMAN GRANULOSA-CELL GONADOTROPIN-INDUCED STEROIDOGENESIS, Human reproduction, 10(11), 1995, pp. 2845-2848
The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of thyroi
d hormone on gonadotrophin-induced oestradiol and progesterone secreti
on by human granulosa cells maintained in vitro. Granulosa cells were
obtained by aspiration of pre-ovulatory follicles from women undergoin
g assisted reproductive technology. Ovulation induction was performed
with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist, human menopausal gonadot
rophin and human chorionic gonadotrophin, Granulosa cells were maintai
ned in vitro in a defined medium with added insulin. Between 48 and 72
h after the initiation of cell culture, oestradiol and progesterone s
ecretion into the medium was determined for granulosa cells growing in
serum-free medium with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)/luteinizing
hormone (LH) and in serum-free medium with FSH/LH and thyroxine added
in a concentration range of 10(-10)-10(-7) M. All concentrations of t
hyroxine used produced a statistically-significant increase in oestrad
iol (range 1.18-1.37 times the amount with FSH/LH alone) and progester
one (range 1.29-1.51 times the amount with FSH/LH alone) secretion.