Steroid Formation by Isolated and Recombined Ovarian Granulosa and Thecal Cells

Abstract

Granulosa and thecal cells were isolated from 2 human ovarian follicles and the separated and recombined cells were incubated in vitro with acetate-1-14C. Radioactively labeled cholesterol, pregnenolone, progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione and estrone were isolated in radiochemically pure form from each of the experimental situations utilizing either granulosa, theca or a mixture of the 2 cell types. In addition, labeled dehydroepiandrosterone was isolated only from the incubation with granulosa cells, while labeled estradiol-17β was isolated only from the thecal cell and recombined studies.