Inhibition of ovarian and testicular steroidogenesis by epidermal growth factor

Epidermal growth factor (EGF), but not fibroblast growth factor, inhibits the gonadotropin stimulation of estrogen and testosterone production by primary cultures of ovarian granulosa and testicular Leydig cells, respectively. EGF also inhibits gonadal steroidogenesis induced by cholera toxin and (Bu)2cAMP, and the inhibitory effect of EGF is not associated with cell proliferation. EGF may play an important endocrine role in the regulation of steroidogenic functions of gonadal cells.