ESTRADIOL PRODUCTION BY LUTEINIZED HUMAN GRANULOSA-CELLS - EVIDENCE OF THE STIMULATORY ACTION OF RECOMBINANT HUMAN FOLLICLE-STIMULATING-HORMONE

In this study the effect of recombinant human follicle stimulating hor mone (rFSH) on oestradiol production by human granulosa-lutein cells w as examined in long-term culture, in the presence or absence of androg ens, Cells were harvested at the time of follicular aspiration after o varian hyperstimulation for in-vitro fertilization and cultured for 9 days. Granulosa cells were capable of secreting oestradiol spontaneous ly even without androgen and gonadotrophin support. Basal oestradiol s ecretion was relatively high and variable (421.3 +/- 159.3 pg/ml, mean +/- SEM, n = 13) on the first day and decreased gradually to 16.7 +/- 3.1 pg/ml on day 9, Addition of androgens (testosterone or androstene dione) to the incubation medium enhanced dose-dependently basal oestro gen production on days 5, 7 and 9. The androgen/oestrogen conversion r ate remained constantly high during the culture, even without rFSH. Af ter pre-incubation for 3 days, addition of rFSH resulted in a dose- an d time-dependent increase in granulosa-lutein cell oestrogen productio n in the absence of exogenous androgens, Testosterone supplementation caused considerably higher basal oestradiol concentrations, however rF SH failed to further stimulate the oestrogen release from granulosa-lu tein cells, suggesting that these cells cultured irt vitro possess hig h aromatase activity even without rFSH support.