Theca and granulosa isolated from proestrous rat ovarian follicles were cultured for 72 h in the presence or absence of highly purified luteinizing hormone (LH, 0.1 .mu.g/ml) and/or follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH, 0.1 .mu.g/ml). Medium was collected and replaced at 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h of culture and measured for testosterone by radioimmunoassay. Pieces of isolated theca secreted androgen; androgen production was greatest during the first 12 h of culture. Addition of highly purified LH to the culture medium significantly increased (P < 0.001) thecal androgen secretion, while addition of highly purified FSH had no significant effect. Addition of LH + FSH to culture medium produced the same effect as addition of LH alone. The response of the theca to LH was dose-dependent with doses of 0.01 .mu.g/ml or greater eliciting a maximum response. The addition of exogenous progesterone (5 .times. 10-7 M) to culture medium had no effect on thecal androgen production. Thecal androgen secretion was the same in the presence or absence of fetal calf serum. Since the testosterone antibody used was not entirely specific for testosterone, testosterone and the cross-reacting androgen, 17.beta.-hydroxy-5.alpha.-androstan-3-one (DHT), were chromatographically isolated from samples and assayed separately. The androgen measured in culture medium consisted primarily of testosterone; DHT was present in much lower concentrations. Granulosa cells isolated from the same follicles as the theca and grown in monolayer culture produced negligible amounts of androgen. The theca is the site of follicular androgen production, and LH regulates androgen secretion by rat ovarian follicles. The theca probably provides the androgen precursor needed for follicular estradiol-17.beta. synthesis.