Progesterone production in cultured human granulosa cells. Correlation with follicular fluid hormone levels

DAIN L; STEIN P; KRIMER A; ASCH R; POLAK DE FRIED E; CHARREAU E; TESONE M

FERTILITY AND STERILITY

Elsevier Inc. Eds

Año: 1991 vol. 55 p. 1093 - 1098

0015-0282

OBJECTIVE: To examine the progesterone (P) production by cultured granulosa cells and the hormonal content in the follicular fluid (FF) of ovarian-hyperstimulated women. DESIGN: Retrospective. SETTING: Private Fertility Clinic and National Research Institute. PATIENTS: Eighteen patients undergoing in vitro fertilization or gamete intrafallopian transfer programs. RESULTS: Progesterone levels Measured in the culture medium of granulosa cells decreased sixfold with culture time. Human luteinizing hormone (LH) increased P production only when basal P production was less than 1 microgram/mL. Granulosa cell P production in culture was negatively correlated with FF LH-human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels. Follicular fluid follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were positively correlated with FF P and 17 beta-estradiol (E2) concentrations. Similar results were found between FF LH (hCG) and E2 levels, but there was no relationship between FF LH (hCG) and FF P values. CONCLUSION: The high dose of hCG administered during gonadotropin treatment could induce a decrease in the in vitro granulosa cell P production