EFFECT OF GONADOTROPINS, INSULIN AND IGF-I ON GRANULOSA-LUTEAL CELLS FROM POLYCYSTIC OVARIES

The aim of this work is to evaluate the gonadotropin and growth factor effects in vitro on steroidal response in human granulosa luteal cell s from polycystic ovaries compared with normal granulosa luteal cells in humans. The granulosa cells from polycystic (polycystic ovarian gra nulosa cells, POGC) and normo-ovulating women (normal cells, NC) were collected in the preovulatory phase after oocyte retrieval during the GIFT program. The cells were cultured serum-free for 24, 48 and 96 h. Estradiol and progesterone production was determined with or without H CG (1-200 ng/ml), FSH (10-300 ng/ml), insulin (1-50 mu g/ml) and IGF I (1-50 ng/ml) addition. All treatments significantly induced a 2-3 fol d estradiol increase at the 48-h and 96-h time points in POGC. The pro gesterone production was unaffected by HCG, FSH, insulin and IGF I add ition, respectively, in POGC, whereas the NC were responsive at the 48 -h and 96-h time points. FSH, did not stimulate progesterone productio n in granulosa cells either from polycystic or normovulating subjects. Our findings indicate that POGC are hypersensitive to all substances in terms of estradiol production, whereas they show a reduced capacity of progesterone production with some treatments.