Morphology and steroidogenesis of cultured granulosa cells from endometrioidally changed ovaries.

The aim of the study was to see the function of follicular cells collected from ovaries of women suffering from endometriosis. The material was granulosa cells taken from 11 patients operated on 3rd and 4th degree of endometriosis. Antral granulosa cells were harvested from 34 medium-size (5-10 mm in diameter) follicles located on the cysts' walls or in the cysts' vicinity. Using the culture method, morphology and steroid secretion was estimated. Morphological properties of the cells in the culture did not differ significantly from that of healthy ones. All cells formed a monolayer and achieved different degrees of luteinization. Steroidogenesis of these granulosa cells was defected, particularly in the production of progesterone and testosterone.