The effect of leuprorelin on steroidogenesis of human preovulatory granulosa cells in vitro

Purpose: LHRH analogues are commonly used in in vitro fertilization protocols to induce hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. The aim of our study was to evaluate the action of the LHRH agonist leuprorelin on the E(2) steroidogenesis of human preovulatory granulosa cells. Results: FSH causes a significant increase in E(2) production which is double that of the basal condition (P <0.01). At concentrations of 1, 10, and 100 ng/ml, leuprorelin does not produce ally modification with respect to the basal condition during the 24- or 72-hr culture period. The FSH, added at different analogue concentrations, produces a significant increase in E(2) production as compared to the basal condition (P <0.05) and the E(2) production percentage is similar to the values obtained with FSH alone during the 24- or 72-hr culture period. Conclusions: Leuprorelin has no effect on the in vitro E(2) production at any concentration. The treatment with different doses of leuprorelin does not suppress FSH-stimulated E(2) production. Our findings suggest that human granulosa cells are not acutely sensitive to a direct action on E(2) steroidogenesis by LHRH analogues.