MICROCARRIER CULTURE - A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO GRANULOSA-CELL CULTIVATION

Granulosa cells (GC) are steroid secreting and hormone responsive cell s synthesizing increased amounts of progesterone (P-4) under the influ ence of gonadotropins. Up to now these cells have been cultivated as m onolayers. However, in this system, cells dedifferentiate early and ce ase to respond to stimulation. GC are a good model for studying hormon al regulation of ovarian cell function. In this study, microcarrier cu lture was tested for the first time to see whether it would be a good system in which GC would grow and give a stronger responsivity to gona dotropins. Cells were grown in stationary culture on microcarriers Cyt odex 3 (C3) coated with collagen and on pure gelatin beads. Only C3 cu ltures were successful. Cells proliferated better on C3 microcarriers and on day 4 of culture secreted more P-4 under the influence of FSH a nd LH than comparative monolayer cultures.