Enzyme histochemistry of cultured ovarian cells. II. Histochemistry of porcine theca interna cells in tissue culture.

By means of histochemical technique the activities of delta53beta-, 17beta-, 20alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, as well as alkaline and acid phosphatase were investigated in monolayer cultures of theca interna cells, isolated from preovulatory porcine ovarian follicles. It was found that theca interna cells exhibited high and constant activity of delta53beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and G6P-DH, whereas activities of both 17beta- and 20alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase were lower and showed some fluctuations during in vitro culture. Addition of LH to the medium brought about the increase of all studied dehydrogenases. FSH was less effective. Estradiol showed quite and inhibiting effect. All the hormones mentioned above caused the increase of alkaline and acid phosphatase activity in cultured porcine theca interna cells.