In vitro effects of sex steroids on LH-stimulated steroid accumulation by isolated rabbit ovarian follicles

The in vitro effects of progesterone, testosterone and estradiol-17 beta on steroid accumulation by isolated rabbit follicles were examined. Progesterone had no effect on LH-stimulated androgen accumulation but inhibited LH-stimulated estrogen accumulation at 10(-7) M and 10(-6) M. Testosterone at 10(-5) M but not at 10(-6) M or 10(-7) M, inhibited LH-stimulated progesterone accumulation. LH-stimulated estrogen accumulation was inhibited at all dose levels of testosterone. Estradiol (10(-5) M) inhibited LH-stimulated androgen accumulation and had no effects on progesterone accumulation. It is concluded that the steroidal milieu of follicles can influence their response to LH.