Oxytocin and progesterone secretion by bovine granulosa cells of individual preovulatory follicles cultured in serum-free medium

To examine the secretion of oxytocin (OT) and progesterone (P) from a homogeneous population of cells during luteinization, we developed a serum-free culture technique for granulosa cells, obtained from individual preovulatory bovine follicles. Granulosa cells from earlier stages of the follicle development did not have the capability to secrete OT under the in vitro conditions used. For optimal stimulation of the cells the medium (a 1:1 mixture of Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium and Ham's F-12) was supplemented with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and insulin. OT was detectable from day 1 of culture reaching a maximum level between days 2 and 4 and then declined towards day 5. In the absence of insulin OT declined from day 1 onwards and was undetectable from day 4. When cells were cocultured with theca tissue or theca-conditioned medium (TCM), there was an enhancement in OT secretion, but not in P secretion. Other tissues including liver, kidney, aorta, muscle and adrenal incubated with the cells induced a similar increase in OT production. In the presence of insulin progesterone secretion was increased and was correlated with OT production, but did not show a consistent pattern among follicles. We conclude that (a) culture of granulosa cells from an individual follicle in a serum-free medium can be used to study the secretion of OT and P from bovine granulosa cells, (b) insulin is essential for the optimal production of OT and P by these cells, and (c) the addition of theca or other tissues enhanced OT secretion by a mechanism not understood.