title: Catechol oestradiol control of FSH-stimulated granulosa cell steroidogenesis.
abstract: Catechol oestrogens are formed in the ovary but it is not known if they have a local function. Working with primary granulosa cell cultures prepared from immature rat ovaries, we found that the presence of 2-hydroxyoestradiol in the culture medium (48 h incubation) dramatically enhanced the steroidogenic response (progesterone production) to human FSH (100 ng/ml). The effect of 2-hydroxyoestradiol was dose-dependent and maximal (approximately 40 times the response to FSH alone) at 3.0 microM. The stimulatory action of 1.0 microM 2-hydroxyoestradiol was greater than 10 times more than that of 1.0 microM oestradiol but only half that of 1.0 microM testosterone; other catechol oestrogens (2-hydroxyoestrone, 4-hydroxyoestradiol, 2-methoxyoestradiol and 2-methoxyoestrone) were not stimulatory. The stimulatory actions of 2-hydroxyoestradiol and testosterone were partially additive and each was antagonized in the same way by the presence of a specific antiandrogen (SCH16423). These observations suggest a role for intrafollicular catechol oestradiol in modulating FSH-stimulated granulosa cell steroidogenesis; its mechanism of action may be similar to that of testosterone.
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Hudson
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Hillier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004958:Estradiol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002393:Estrogens, Catechol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002393:Estrogens, Catechol; D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; C001390:2-hydroxyestradiol