EFFECTS OF RECOMBINANT HUMAN FOLLICLE-STIMULATING-HORMONE ON CULTUREDHUMAN GRANULOSA-CELLS - COMPARISON WITH URINARY GONADOTROPINS AND ACTIONS IN PREOVULATORY FOLLICLES

The effects of recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone (rFSH; O rg 32489) have been examined in human granulosa cells from ovaries obt ained from women with spontaneous menses. In the first series of exper iments the actions of rFSH on production of oestradiol and progesteron e were compared with those of urinary-derived gonadotrophins. Recombin ant FSH induced dose-dependent increases in production of both oestrad iol and progesterone which were similar to the effects of 'pure' FSH ( Metrodin(R)) and the International Standard IS 71/223. In further stud ies, the actions of rFSH on oestradiol production by individual preovu latory follicles were investigated; rFSH increased oestradiol accumula tion from cells obtained from follicles before the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge. In contrast, rFSH inhibited oestradiol production by gran ulosa cells derived from a follicle after the onset of the LH surge, w hereas the gonadotrophic action of growth hormone was maintained. Foll owing preliminary reports of the in-vivo effects of rFSH in women, the se findings provide further validation of the efficacy of rFSH in the human ovary. The results of studies of the preovulatory follicle illus trate the experimental importance of the availability of recombinant p reparations of pure gonadotrophins, produced by recombinant technology , in the understanding of human ovarian function.