title: 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.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physiology, School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece. basima@med.duth.gr
authors.forename: Byron
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Asimakopoulos
authors.forename: Nikos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nikolettos
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nehls
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Diedrich
authors.forename: Safaa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Hasani
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Metzen
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D006727:Hormone Antagonists; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone