Steroidal Modulation of Progesterone Secretion by Granulosa Cells from Large Porcine Follicles: A Role for Androgens and Estrogens in Controlling Steroidogenesis

Abstract

Progesterone (P) secretion in culture by porcine granulose cells aspirated from mid- to late-follicular phase, 8-10 mm follicles was enhanced by dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and suppressed by estradiol-17β (E) in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, enhancement and suppression occurred at concentrations of DHT and E, respectively, characteristic of follicular fluid late in the estrous cycle. Simultaneous addition of 50 ng DHT/ml and 500 ng E/ml demonstrated predominance of the suppressive effect of E. Cells obtained by a mechanical agitation technique, which increased the cell yield 8- to 17-fold, also showed enhancement by DHT and suppression by E. The results provide evidence of androgenic and estrogenic modulation of steroidogenesis by highly differentiated granulosa cells from large porcine follicles. This extends similar observations utilizing more immature cells and suggests roles for androgens and estrogens in regulating granulosa cell steroidogenesis throughout follicular development.