BACKGROUND: Clear cell tumor of Müllerian organs have characteristic intracellular structures with numerous small mitochondria, free ribosomes, lamellae of granular endoplasmic reticulum and intracytoplasmic glycogen granules, but synthesize no estrogens under ordinary conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cells from an ovarian clear cell tumor cultured with 10 micrograms/ml of the antioxidant probucol released more estradiol into the medium than cells cultured without probucol. Immunocytological analysis revealed the predominance of estradiol in the adenocarcinoma cells cultured with probucol. RESULTS: There was no difference in the distribution of low-density lipoprotein receptors in adenocarcinoma cells according to whether they had been cultured with or without probucol. Cytochemical analysis showed that hydroxylation of estrone was accelerated in the adenocarcinoma cells cultured with probucol as compared to the cells cultured without probucol. CONCLUSION: Probucol is thought to have an unknown function in the acceleration of hydroxylation of steroids in some types of cells with estrogen-producing potential.
BACKGROUND: Clear cell tumor of Müllerian organs have characteristic intracellular structures with numerous small mitochondria, free ribosomes, lamellae of granular endoplasmic reticulum and intracytoplasmic glycogen granules, but synthesize no estrogens under ordinary conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cells from an ovarian clear cell tumor cultured with 10 micrograms/ml of the antioxidant probucol released more estradiol into the medium than cells cultured without probucol. Immunocytological analysis revealed the predominance of estradiol in the adenocarcinoma cells cultured with probucol. RESULTS: There was no difference in the distribution of low-density lipoprotein receptors in adenocarcinoma cells according to whether they had been cultured with or without probucol. Cytochemical analysis showed that hydroxylation of estrone was accelerated in the adenocarcinoma cells cultured with probucol as compared to the cells cultured without probucol. CONCLUSION:Probucol is thought to have an unknown function in the acceleration of hydroxylation of steroids in some types of cells with estrogen-producing potential.