OBJECTIVE: To investigate P secretion by granulosa cells (GCs) versus cumulus cells derived from human preovulatory follicles. DESIGN: Cells were recovered by aspiration of preovulatory follicles in 44 women participating in an IVF program. Induction of ovulation was performed using clomiphene citrate, hMG and hCG (group I), hMG/hCG (group II), buserelin acetate/hMG/hCG (group III), or Decapeptyl/hMG/hCG (group IV). SETTING: Laboratories of the IVF Unit at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Secretion of P was examined after cultures for 96 hours under nonstimulated and hCG stimulated conditions. RESULTS: Progesterone secretion by GCs derived from all four groups was found to be higher compared with the respective cumulus cells. However, although the ratios of P secretion by GCs versus cumulus cells in groups I, II, and III were very similar, a significantly lower value was observed in group IV. The response of GCs to hCG in terms of P secretion was higher with at least one dose of hCG in groups I and IV compared with groups II and III. The response of cumulus cells to hCG was absent regardless of the treatment protocol used in vivo. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that in the human preovulatory follicle, GCs and cumulus cells differ in their capacity to secrete P as well as in their response to hCG. They further suggest that the mode of induction of ovulation affects the relative capacity of GCs and cumulus cells to secrete P and their ability to respond to hCG.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate P secretion by granulosa cells (GCs) versus cumulus cells derived from human preovulatory follicles. DESIGN: Cells were recovered by aspiration of preovulatory follicles in 44 women participating in an IVF program. Induction of ovulation was performed using clomiphene citrate, hMG and hCG (group I), hMG/hCG (group II), buserelin acetate/hMG/hCG (group III), or Decapeptyl/hMG/hCG (group IV). SETTING: Laboratories of the IVF Unit at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Secretion of P was examined after cultures for 96 hours under nonstimulated and hCG stimulated conditions. RESULTS: Progesterone secretion by GCs derived from all four groups was found to be higher compared with the respective cumulus cells. However, although the ratios of P secretion by GCs versus cumulus cells in groups I, II, and III were very similar, a significantly lower value was observed in group IV. The response of GCs to hCG in terms of P secretion was higher with at least one dose of hCG in groups I and IV compared with groups II and III. The response of cumulus cells to hCG was absent regardless of the treatment protocol used in vivo. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that in the human preovulatory follicle, GCs and cumulus cells differ in their capacity to secrete P as well as in their response to hCG. They further suggest that the mode of induction of ovulation affects the relative capacity of GCs and cumulus cells to secrete P and their ability to respond to hCG.
Authors: L Dirnfeld; M Paz; D Yshai; I Calderon; S Lahav-Baratz; M Koifman; H Shiloh; H Abramovici; D Bider Journal: J Assist Reprod Genet Date: 2003-06 Impact factor: 3.412