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Steroid production from 17-hydoxypregnenolone and dehydroepiandrosterone by human granulosa cells in vitro

Summary. Granulosa cells were aspirated 3–4 h before the expected time of ovulation from 10 follicles of 4 patients treated with gonadotrophins: 4 of the follicles were immediately preovulatory. The granulosa cells were cultured for 10 h with 17-hydroxypregnenolone or dehydroepiandrosterone and samples of medium removed at 3 and 10 h were assayed for 6 steroids.

Granulosa cells were unable to synthesize androgens from endogenous substrate or undertake conversions via the ⁵ pathway, but cells from all follicles were capable of aromatizing exogenous androgens to oestrogens although this capability was reduced in cells from follicles beginning to luteinize. Granulosa cells from preovulatory follicles synthesized more progesterone from endogenous substrate than cells from follicles which had not begun to luteinize. The results provide further support for the two-cell theory of oestrogen biosynthesis whereby granulosa cells aromatize androgens which are synthesized by the thecal cells in vivo.