Production of steroids in one case of granulosa cell tumor in culture.

The cellular origin and the mechanism of steroidogenesis were investigated on one case of recurrent type of granulosa cell tumor. Light and electron microscopic findings indicated the cell component was non-luteinized granulosal element and neither fibroblastic nor thecal ones. These tumor cells were cultured as monolayers and steroids (estradiol-17 beta, dehydroepiandrosterone, progesterone and 17-hydroxyprogesterone) secreted in the medium were measured by radioimmunoassay. Despite low level of estrogen, progesterone or testosterone in the serum or urine preoperatively, the estradiol-17B level in the culture medium after three days of cultivation reached over 900 pg/ml. In both light and electron microscopic observations of the cultured cells, morphological characteristics of activation of steroidogenesis were noted. It is concluded that this type of granulosa cell tumor consisting exclusively of the granulosa element without thecal one has the activity of estrogen production.