Culture of human fetal ovarian epithelium in a chemically-defined, serum-free medium: a model for ovarian carcinogenesis.

We report on of the possibility to culture normal human fetal ovarian epithelium in vitro under chemically defined conditions. Cell growth was dependent upon the presence of epidermal growth factor, insulin, and hydrocortisone in the culture medium but was unaffected by the presence of estrogen, progesterone, follicle stimulating hormone, or Müllerian inhibiting Substance. Growth could be maintained for up to 6 passages in culture. The possibility of culturing these cells in serum-free medium may represent an attractive model to investigate the biology of normal ovarian epithelium as well as its role in human ovarian tumorigenesis.