Local control of ovarian steroidogenesis.

A number of putative paracrine factors are now thought to interact with FSH in the control of ovarian steroidogenesis. The relative importance of these factors remains to be determined, but the presence of the insulin-like growth factors and their binding proteins and the mechanism of control of the latter through the local production of proteases suggests a role for this system in folliculogenesis. We have demonstrated over-production of steroid hormones in tissue from women with polycystic ovaries. Theca cells in monolayer culture produced excessive amounts of progesterone and androstenedione and granulosa cell oestradiol production was considerably enhanced in response to FSH. Recent evidence points to a genetic defect in the expression or translation of steroidogenic hormones as a cause of excess androgen production, but the gene or genes involved has not been established. Data from our group suggest that granulosa cells from anovulatory polycystic ovaries are prematurely matured and we hypothesize that this is due to the interaction of the raised circulating insulin levels with LH in these follicles, an interaction that results in arrested follicular growth.