[Studies on steroidogenesis of isolated granulosa cells and thecal tissue in tissue culture--with special reference to polycystic ovary syndrome (author's transl)].

The purpose of this study is to determine the steroidogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCO), through the comparison of steroidogenic potential between polycystic and normal ovarian cells harvested from follicles under 6 mm in diameter in vitro. 1) The granulosa cells were cultured by monolayer culture method, while the thecal tissue by explant culture method, at 37 degrees C using 5% CO2 in air for 18 days. 2) The cultured granulosa cells and thecal tissue grew successfully under 20% fetal calf serum with 80% medium 199. 3) The major product secreted by the cultured granulosa cells was progesterone, and the difference of steroidogenic potential between normal ovary and PCO was not significant. 4) The major products of isolated thecal tissue were delta 4-androstenedione and testosterone. Particularly, the cultured thecal tissue from PCO accumulated more androgens, in comparison with that from normal ovary. 5) The secretion of estradiol by the cultured granulosa cells was low in the absence of estrogen substrate and FSH. There was not appreciable difference in the capacity of granulosa cells from normal ovary and PCO to secrete estradiol. These results suggest that steroidogenic potential of isolated granulosa cells from PCO is comparable to that from normal ovary, whereas thecal tissue from PCO has more androgenic capacity than that from normal ovary.