Production of steroids by human ovarian surface epithelial cells in culture: possible role of progesterone as growth inhibitor.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose was to investigate whether normal ovarian surface epithelial cells, harvested from premenopausal and postmenopausal women, are capable of steroid production, and to evaluate effects of estradiol and progesterone on growth regulation of such cells.


METHODS
Ovarian surface epithelial cells were obtained by brushing of the ovarian surface of 9 premenopausal and 10 postmenopausal women undergoing surgery for benign gynecological diseases. The conditioned media after culture, with and without addition of FSH and LH, were analyzed for estradiol and progesterone. The proliferative effects of the steroids were analyzed using two different culture models, nonconfluent cells and confluent cells, and two different detection methods, [(3)H]thymidine incorporation and a colorimetric method assaying cell number.


RESULTS
The normal ovarian surface epithelial cells were found to secrete both estradiol and progesterone, a production that was not regulated by FSH or LH. Addition of steroids to the cultured cells did not induce any overall significant growth effects. However, progesterone significantly inhibited the growth of ovarian surface epithelial cells from three of the patients. Enhanced thymidine incorporation was observed in the presence of the progesterone receptor antagonist Org 31710 in the nonconfluent cultures of cells from postmenopausal women, but no effect of an estrogen receptor antagonist was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
The normal ovarian surface epithelium is capable of steroid production, which is also often observed in tissue from ovarian epithelial tumors. Progesterone appeared to be a negative regulator of ovarian surface epithelial growth, while estradiol had no effect.
Ivarsson
K
K
Department of Physiology, Institute for the Health of Women and Children, Göteborg, Sweden. karin.ivarsson@medfak.gu.se
Sundfeldt
K
K
Brännström
M
M
Janson
P O
PO
D000368:Aged; D002452:Cell Count; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004963:Estrenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D000077267:Fulvestrant; D005663:Furans / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
D004963:Estrenes; D005663:Furans; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; C076196:Org 31710; D000077267:Fulvestrant; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone