[Studies on steroidogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome--endocrinological analysis of follicular fluid and progesterone biosynthesis of cultured granulosa cells].

In order to determine the difference between steroidogenesis in normal and polycystic ovaries (PCO), endocrinological analysis of follicular fluid and monolayer cell culture of human granulosa cells were carried out, and human LH and dibutyryl cyclic AMP were added to the cultures. The concentrations of LH and androstenedione in the follicular fluid from PCO ovaries were significantly higher than those found in normal ovaries in the early and mid-follicular phases. The cultured granulosa cells from the mid-follicular phase of normal women responded significantly to LH, showing an 8 to 10 fold increase in progesterone production. In contrast, exogenous LH caused only a slight stimulation (2 to 4 fold increase) in progesterone production by granulosa cells from PCO follicles. The cultured granulosa cells from normal women and PCO ovaries responded significantly to dibutyryl cyclic AMP, showing an 8 to 10 fold increase in progesterone production. These results strongly suggest that there is no alteration in the steroidogenic pathway after the cyclic AMP stage and that the persistent elevation of LH in serum and follicular fluid may lead to a disturbance of progesterone production in response to exogenous LH in the cultured granulosa cells from PCO ovaries.