Progesterone Production by Cultured Preantral Rat Granulosa Cells: Stimulation by Androgens

Abstract

Progesterone (P) production by isolated rat granulosa cells from preantral follicles was enhanced by addition of androgens to the tissue culture medium. Testosterone (T) at 10-7, 10-6 and 10-4 and 10-6 M dihydrotestosterone (DHT) increased P production 400 to 700% over paired control cultures. Human chorionic gonadotropin (100 mIU/ml) and 17.beta.-estradiol (7.8 .times. 10-10 M) had no effect on P production. P was identified by both a specific radioimmunoassay and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. The stimulatory influence of T and DHT on these preantral follicular cells is consistent with a direct role for androgens in granulosa cell differentiation.