Endocrinologia Japonica
Online ISSN : 2185-6370
Print ISSN : 0013-7219
ISSN-L : 0013-7219
Androgen Production by Human Isolated Components of Normal and Polycystic Ovaries in Vitro
YUKIO NAKAMURAYASUNORI YOSHIMURAKIYOSHI KAMEIYASUSHI IZUMITOMIO SAWADARIHACHI IIZUKA
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1982 Volume 29 Issue 3 Pages 307-317

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Abstract

The present study was undertaken to determine the capacities of granulosa cells and thecal tissues from polycystic ovaries, in comparison to those from normal ovaries, to secrete androgens in vitro. Isolated granulosa cells and thecal tissues from normal and polycystic ovaries were cultured with or without luteinizing hormone (LH), human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), or follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) for 12 days.
The cultured granulosa cells from both groups produced insignificant levels of androgens and, moreover, the addition of exogenous LH had no stimulatory effect on testosterone accumulation. The cultured thecal tissues secreted large amounts of androstenedione and relatively large amounts of progesterone, estradiol and testosterone. On a per unit mass basis, in the absence of exogenous gonadotropin, the cultured thecal tissues from polycystic ovaries produced significantly more androgen than those from normal ovaries. Comparative studies of normal and polycystic ovaries revealed that the cultured thecal tissues from normal ovaries were more reactive to exogenous LH stimulation than those from polycystic ovaries, but that the net increase in androgen production due to LH stimulation did not differ significantly between the cultured thecal tissues from normal and polycystic ovaries.
The present observations suggest that thecal tissues, but not granulosa cells, may be partly responsible for hyperandrogenism in patients with polycystic ovaries. It is possible that the excessive androgen production in the cultured thecal tissues from polycystic ovaries may be due to the in vivo exposure to chronic LH stimulation.

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© The Japan Endocrine Society
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