THE EFFECT OF LEUPRORELIN ON STEROIDOGENESIS OF HUMAN PREOVULATORY GRANULOSA-CELLS IN-VITRO

Purpose: LHRH analogues are commonly used in in vitro fertilization pr otocols to induce hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. The aim of our study was to evaluate the action of the LHRH agonist leuprorelin on the E(2) steroidogenesis of human preovulatory granulosa cells. Results: FSH c auses a significant increase in E(2) production which is double that o f the basal condition (P <0.01). At concentrations of 1, 10, and 100 n g/ml, leuprorelin does not produce ally modification with respect to t he basal condition during the 24- or 72-hr culture period. The FSH, ad ded at different analogue concentrations, produces a significant incre ase in E(2) production as compared to the basal condition (P <0.05) an d the E(2) production percentage is similar to the values obtained wit h FSH alone during the 24- or 72-hr culture period. Conclusions: Leupr orelin has no effect on the in vitro E(2) production at any concentrat ion. The treatment with different doses of leuprorelin does not suppre ss FSH-stimulated E(2) production. Our findings suggest that human gra nulosa cells are not acutely sensitive to a direct action on E(2) ster oidogenesis by LHRH analogues.