Relationship between the endocrine environment within the Graafian follicle and the subsequent rate of progesterone secretion by human granulosa cells in vitro.

The steroidogenic potential of granulosa cells harvested from human Graafian follicles containing varying concentrations of pituitary and steroid hormones was examined. The mitotic activity and production of progesterone by granulosa cells in vitro was found to be correlated with their hormonal environment at the time of harvesting. Only cells from follicles containing some FSH and high concentrations of oestradiol underwent spontaneous mitosis in vitro. However, mitosis could be induced by adding FSH and high concentrations of oestradiol to the culture, provided that the concentration of LH was low. Cells harvested from follicles containing LH, FSH and high concentrations of oestradiol secreted significantly more progesterone than cells from follicles which did not contain all three hormones. It is suggested that after the initiation of follicular development by FSH, a long period of exposure (8-10 Days) to both FSH and oestradiol is necessary before the maximum biosynthetic capacity of granulosa cells is achieved; this synthetic potential is then only realized under the influence of LH and prolactin. Premature exposure to LH inhibits both the mitotic activity and the steroidogenic potential of these cells.