Steroid production and responsiveness to gonadotropin in isolated stromal tissue of human postmenopausal ovaries.

Specimens from the ovarian cortical stroma of 15 postmenopausal women were examined histologically and were incubated for 4 hours in Krebs' bicarbonate buffer containing 5.5 mM glucose and 1% bovine serum albumin. Specimens of normal postmenopausal stroma produced measurable amounts of androstenedione, estradiol, and progesterone in vitro. Specimens with stromal hyperplasia produced larger amounts of androstenedione and estradiol than those with normal stroma. Androstenedione was the predominant steroid produced in both groups. The nonnegligible formation of estradiol indicated an aromatizing capacity of the stromal tissue. The addition of hCG elicited a significant increase in cyclic AMP formation in specimens from ovaries with stromal hyperplasia, indicating a preserved responsiveness to gonadotropin in this type of ovaries.