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Updated: Aug 30, 2026
Human Primary Trophoblast Cell Culture Model to Study the Protective Effects of Melatonin Against Hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced Disruption
Published on: July 30, 2016
Increased endogenous level of melatonin in preovulatory human follicles does not directly influence progesterone
Yasuhiko Nakamura1, Hiroshi Tamura, Hisako Takayama
1Department of Reproductive, Pediatric, and Infectious Science, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan. yasu-ygc@umin.ac.jp
Objective:
To study the role of follicular melatonin on steroid production by human preovulatory follicles.
Design:
In vivo comparative and in vitro culture studies.
Setting:
University hospital.
Patient(S):
Thirty-six patients with tubal and/or male, but not endocrinological, infertility factors.
Intervention(S):
Follicular fluid collection during IVF. In vitro granulosa cell culture from luteinizing or growing Graafian follicles.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Follicular melatonin, P, T, and E(2) concentrations. In vitro P production by granulosa cells.
Result(S):
There was a positive correlation between follicular melatonin and P concentrations. Melatonin did not stimulate in vitro P production by granulosa cells from luteinizing or growing follicles. Melatonin, P, and E(2) concentrations were significantly higher, but T concentrations were lower, in large follicles than in small follicles.
Conclusion(S):
Preovulatory follicles contain a high amount of melatonin compared with that in small immature follicles; melatonin may play an important, but indirect, role in P production by human granulosa cells.
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