Effect of recombinant activin on androgen synthesis in cultured human thecal cells.
AI Summary
Key Findings
Abstract
The effect of activin-A on ovarian androgen synthesis was tested in vitro using serum-free monolayer cultures of human thecal cells. Maximal rates of androgen (androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone) production were induced by treating the cells for 4 days with LH (10 ng/mL) in the presence of insulin-like growth factor-I (greater than or equal to 30 ng/mL). The additional presence of recombinant activin-A (1-100 ng/mL) in culture medium caused dose-dependent suppression of thecal cell androgen production, with 50% maximal inhibition occurring at an activin-A concentration of about 10 ng/mL. Progesterone production was only suppressed by high dose (100 ng/mL) activin-A, and inhibition of steroid production occurred without inhibition of DNA synthesis (tritiated thymidine uptake). These results reveal a potent and selective inhibitory action of activin-A on thecal cell androgen synthesis, consistent with a paracrine function for activin(s) in modulating follicular androgen biosynthesis in the human ovary.
Affiliation
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom.
External References
- PubMed ID:
- 2026742
Comments
Sign in or create a free account to join the conversation.
Sign in to commentBe the first to comment.