Steroid hormones regulate cAMP and cGMP production by porcine granulosa cells in vitro.

The influence of steroid hormones on the output of the cyclic nucleotides adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) by porcine granulosa cells was investigated. Both progesterone (100, 1000, 10,000 and 100,000 pg/ml medium) and estradiol (100, 1000, 10,000 and 100,000 pg/ml medium) activated cAMP and cGMP production. Testosterone (100 or 1000 pg/ml medium) also stimulated cAMP output. The stimulating effect of steroid hormones on cyclic nucleotide production may suggest the involvement of cAMP- and cGMP-dependent intracellular mechanisms in the action of steroid hormones on porcine ovarian cells.