Gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonists do not influence the secretion of steroid hormones but affect the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor from human granulosa luteinized cell cultures

ObjectiveTo evaluate the secretion of E2, P, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in human granulosa luteinized cell cultures with the presence of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist or antagonist.DesignIn vitro cell culture study.SettingResearch laboratory of a university hospital.PatientsGranulosa luteinized cells were obtained from 24 patients undergoing ovarian stimulation for IVF treatment.InterventionsGranulosa cells were cultured for 48 hours with 1 nM of cetrorelix or leuprorelide. For a further 48 hours, granulosa cells were cultured with or without the combination of cetrorelix plus leuprorelide.Main OutcomesAt the end of each culturing period, the concentrations of E2, P, and VEGF were measured in culture supernatants by immunoassays.ResultsEstradiol and P concentrations were similar between the culture supernatants from controls and treatment groups. The VEGF concentrations in supernatants from cultures with cetrorelix (2,315.1 ± 1,565.5 pg/mL) were moderately, but significantly, lower than in controls (2,604.3 ± 1,907.1 pg/mL) or cultures with leuprorelide (2,558.8 ± 1,403.1 pg/mL).ConclusionsThe GnRH analogues do not affect steroidogenesis in human granulosa luteinized cell cultures. The GnRH antagonists moderately affect the secretion of VEGF from human granulosa luteinized cells.