Modulating effect of leptin on basal and follicle stimulating hormone stimulated steroidogenesis in cultured human lutein granulosa cells

• Published in: Journal of endocrinological investigation Vol. 32; no. 5; pp. 415 - 419
• Main Authors: Karamouti, M., Kollia, P., Kallitsaris, A., Vamvakopoulos, N., Kollios, G., Messinis, I. E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.05.2009
• Subjects: Adult; Cells, Cultured; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Combinations; Endocrinology; Estradiol - biosynthesis; Estradiol - secretion; Female; Fertility - drug effects; Follicle Stimulating Hormone - administration & dosage; Follicle Stimulating Hormone - pharmacology; Humans; Leptin - administration & dosage; Leptin - pharmacology; Leptin - physiology; Luteal Cells - drug effects; Luteal Cells - metabolism; Luteal Cells - secretion; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Metabolic Diseases; Original Articles; Ovary - drug effects; Ovary - physiology; Progesterone - biosynthesis; Progesterone - secretion; Steroids - biosynthesis; Time Factors; Young Adult; ovarian steroidogenesis; lutein granulosa cells; human; leptin; Culture
• ISSN: 0391-4097; 1720-8386
• DOI: 10.1007/BF03346478

Background : In vitro data have shown conflicting results in terms of the effect of leptin on granulosa cells steroidogenesis. Aim : The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of low and high doses of leptin on basal and FSH-induced steroids secretion by human luteinized granulosa cells in culture. Materials and methods : Granulosa cells were obtained from normal women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment and were cultured in serum-free conditions for 72 h. A one-way analysis of variance design was set to study the effect of leptin on basal and FSH-induced steroidogenesis. Results : Leptin affected basal estradiol and progesterone secretion in a dose-related manner. In particular, leptin at low concentrations stimulated the secretion of estradiol (1 and 10 ng/ml) and progesterone (10 ng/ml), while at a high concentration (100 ng/ml) it suppressed the secretion of both steroids. A dose-related effect of leptin on FSH-induced steroidogenesis was not evident, since only the suppressive effect of the high concentration of leptin (100 ng/ml) reached statistical significance for both steroids. Conclusions : These results demonstrate that leptin affects the secretion of steroids in luteinized granulosa cells in a dose-dependent manner. Although a physiological role for leptin is possible, it is suggested that this protein is a mediator of negative rather than positive influential interactions on ovarian function that may compromise fertility.