Effect of pituitary gonadotrophins on proliferation of primary cultures of human ovarian stroma

Abstract

Proliferation of ovarian stromal cells is a common phenomenon in peri- and post-menopausal ovaries. It is generally assumed to be secondary to the rise in circulating gonadotrophins at the menopause, though the process by which it occurs is poorly understood. This study aimed to examine the effect of menopausal levels of pituitary gonadotrophins on the growth of primary cultures of ovarian stroma. A culture system was developed using primary explants of ovarian stroma on a collagen substrate. The effect of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH; 10(-5) g/l) and luteinizing hormone (LH; 10(-5) g/l) on the proliferation of cultures derived from the cortices and medullae of ten ovaries was evaluated using a dual radiothymidine labelling technique. FSH was stimulatory to cortical cultures from 9/10 ovaries and medullary cultures from 7/10 ovaries, while LH was stimulatory to cortical cultures from 6/9 ovaries and medullary cultures from 5/10 ovaries. The responsiveness of the cultures did not correlate with the degree of hyperplasia in vivo. This study demonstrates that pituitary gonadotrophins may modulate the growth of stromal cells in culture, and thus may play a role in the process whereby stromal proliferation occurs in peri- and post-menopausal ovaries.

Kit ligand actions on ovarian stromal cells: Effects on theca cell recruitment and steroid production

“…Although hormones such as estrogen and LH do not induce recruitment of theca cells from stromal cells, hormonal regulation of stromal cell functions including steroid production has been reported (Dennefors et al, 1980;Barbieri et al, 1984;Barbieri et al, 1986;Snowden et al, 1989;Nagamani et al, 1992). Ovarian stromal Fig.…”

“…The low levels of stromal cell steroid production are probably not physiologically significant in young cycling animals. However, older animals whose ovaries contain negligible follicles are proposed to be more affected by ovarian stromal cell steroid production (Serment et al, 1969b;Laffargue and Serment, 1973;Dennefors et al, 1980;Snowden et al, 1989;Nagamani et al, 1992;Thompson and Adelson, 1993). In humans ovarian stromal cells are the primary source of androgen during perimenopausal and postmenopausal life.…”