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Insulin and insulin-like growth factor I stimulate the proliferation of human ovarian theca-interstitial cells
A J Duleba1, R Z Spaczynski, D L Olive
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA. ANTONI.DULEBA@QM.YALE.EDU
Objective:
To determine whether insulin and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) affect the proliferation of human theca-interstitial cells.
Design:
In vitro assays.
Setting:
University laboratory.
Patient(S):
Premenopausal women undergoing oophorectomy for benign conditions.
Intervention(S):
Purified theca-interstitial cells were cultured in chemically defined media with or without insulin and IGF-I.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
The proliferation of cells was evaluated by determination of [3H] thymidine incorporation and cell counting.
Result(S):
Insulin and IGF-I stimulated DNA synthesis by theca-interstitial cells in a dose-dependent fashion. Insulin-like growth factor I had a greater potency than did insulin. The effects of both approached, but did not reach, the level of DNA synthesis observed in cultures exposed to 10% fetal bovine serum. Direct counting of theca-interstitial cells revealed that IGF-I significantly increased the total number of cells (36% above control), whereas insulin induced a modest and statistically nonsignificant increase in the cell number (14% above control).
Conclusion(S):
The present results support the hypothesis that insulin and IGF-I promote the mitotic activity of theca-interstitial cells. These effects may represent mechanisms that lead to hyperplasia of the thecal/stromal compartment in polycystic ovary syndrome.