Gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonists do not influence the secretion of steroid hormones but affect the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor from human granulosa luteinized cell cultures.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the secretion of E(2), P, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in human granulosa luteinized cell cultures with the presence of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist or antagonist.


METHODS
In vitro cell culture study.


METHODS
Research laboratory of a university hospital.


METHODS
Granulosa luteinized cells were obtained from 24 patients undergoing ovarian stimulation for IVF treatment.


METHODS
Granulosa cells were cultured for 48 hours with 1 nM of cetrorelix or leuprorelide. For a further 48 hours, granulosa cells were cultured with or without the combination of cetrorelix plus leuprorelide.


RESULTS
At the end of each culturing period, the concentrations of E(2), P, and VEGF were measured in culture supernatants by immunoassays.


RESULTS
Estradiol and P concentrations were similar between the culture supernatants from controls and treatment groups. The VEGF concentrations in supernatants from cultures with cetrorelix (2,315.1 +/- 1,565.5 pg/mL) were moderately, but significantly, lower than in controls (2,604.3 +/- 1,907.1 pg/mL) or cultures with leuprorelide (2,558.8 +/- 1,403.1 pg/mL).


CONCLUSIONS
The GnRH analogues do not affect steroidogenesis in human granulosa luteinized cell cultures. The GnRH antagonists moderately affect the secretion of VEGF from human granulosa luteinized cells.
Asimakopoulos
Byron
B
Laboratory of Physiology, School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece. basima@med.duth.gr
Nikolettos
Nikos
N
Nehls
Barbara
B
Diedrich
Klaus
K
Al-Hasani
Safaa
S
Metzen
Eric
E
D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D006727:Hormone Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D034461:Luteinization; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D006727:Hormone Antagonists; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone