Cytochemical study of steroid-producing activities of human oocytes

The aim of this study was to determine whether steroidogenesis occurs in human immature oocytes aspirated from follicles during gynecologic laparotomy. delta 5-3 beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (delta 5-3 beta-HSD) and 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17 beta-HSD) activities were detected by Dickmann and Dey's reaction medium consisting of 1.8 mg substrate (pregnenolone or 17 beta-estradiol [E2]), 4 mg nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide, 2 mg nitro-blue tetrazolium, 10 ml 0.1 M phosphate buffer. The activity of adenylate cyclase was examined by ultrastructural-cytochemical study using 5'-adenylyl-imidodiphosphate (AMP-PNP) as a substrate in Vorbrodt's medium of 0.005 M AMP-PNP, 0.001 M MgCl2, 0.02 M SrCl2, 0.01 M NaF, 0.002 M theophylline, 0.01 M Tris-HCl. Furthermore, in indirect immunofluorescence study, the presence of endogenous progesterone and E2 and the activity of delta 5-3 beta-HSD were demonstrated. The results suggest that steroidogenesis, through the adenylate cyclase-cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate system, in human oocytes may play some important role in oocyte maturation, fertilization, and early embryonic development. The implication of steroid-producing activities of the human oocytes for cytoplasmic maturation is discussed.