XXXX theca and granulosa cells interact to promote @entity342 production.

@entity251 @entity1420 @entity3333 @entity2671 @entity342 @entity291
Pieces of theca interna or follicle wall (theca interna + attached granulosa cells), obtained from @entity291 preovulatory follicles prior to the surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) and cultured for 3 days, secreted @entity2671 . Luteinizing hormone, but not follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), increased production of @entity2671 3 to 4-fold. In both the presence and absence of LH, follicle wall preparations secreted about 4-fold more @entity2671 than did equivalent amounts of theca interna tissue. Isolated granulosa cells produced only negligible quantities of @entity2671 , which suggests that they may contribute to the greater production of @entity2671 by follicle wall by supplying progestin precursor to the theca cells. The addition of @entity3333 or @entity1420 to isolated theca interna increased the secretion of @entity2671 , but @entity3333 was by far the more effective precursor. This suggested that the delta 5 (delta 5) pathway is the preferred pathway for @entity2671 synthesis by @entity291 theca cells and that granulosa cells might supply progestin precursor in the form of @entity3333 . Follicle wall and granulosa cell cultures secreted 2 and 7 times more @entity3333 , respectively, than did theca cultures. Luteinizing hormone, but not FSH, increased production of @entity3333 by the follicle wall, whereas the gonadotropins had no effect on secretion by either granulosa or theca cells. Since exogenous @entity251 enhanced the production of @entity3333 by granulosa cells, thecal @entity342 (which is stimulated by LH) may increase the ability of granulosa cells to make @entity3333 and explain the stimulatory effect of LH on @entity3333 secretion by follicle wall.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
