Oxytocin affects the release of steroids, insulin-like growth factor-I, prostaglandin F2α and cyclic nucleotides by human granulosa cells in vitro

Abstract

The aim of the present experiments was to examine the effects of oxytocin (1-10 000 ng/ml) on hormone and cyclic nucleotide secretion by human granulosa cells cultured in a serum-supplemented medium. The release of progesterone, oestradiol, insulin-like growth factor-I, prostaglandin F2α, cAMP and cGMP into the incubation medium was analysed by radioimmunoassay. An inhibition of progesterone, but not of oestradiol release was observed. Oxytocin also stimulated insulin-like growth factor-I, prostaglandin F2α, cAMP and cGMP output. The results suggest an involvement of oxytocin in the autocrine/paracrine regulation of steroid, insulin-like growth factor, prostaglandin and cyclic nucleotide release by human ovarian cells.