OXYTOCIN AFFECTS THE RELEASE OF STEROIDS, INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH-FACTOR-I, PROSTAGLANDIN-F2-ALPHA AND CYCLIC-NUCLEOTIDES BY HUMAN GRANULOSA-CELLS IN-VITRO

The aim of the present experiments was to examine the effects of oxyto cin (1-10 000 ng/ml) on hormone and cyclic nucleotide secretion by hum an granulosa cells cultured in a serum-supplemented medium, The releas e of progesterone, oestradiol, insulin-like growth factor-I, prostagla ndin F-2 alpha, cAMP and cGMP into the incubation medium was analysed by radioimmunoassay, An inhibition of progesterone, but not of oestrad iol release was observed, Oxytocin also stimulated insulin-like growth factor-I, prostaglandin F-2 alpha, cAMP and cGMP output, The results suggest an involvement of oxytocin in the autocrine/paracrine regulati on of steroid, insulin-like growth factor, prostaglandin and cyclic nu cleotide release by human ovarian cells.