= Granulosa-lutein cell
A <granulosa-lutein cell> is a <granulosa cell> that has undergone <luteinization>, acquiring the differentiated endocrine state associated with the <corpus luteum>. It can produce <progesterone> while retaining experimentally measurable regulation of other steroid pathways. The label identifies origin and cell state, rather than a separate <oocyte> or an entire <ovarian follicle>.
In a 1991 human-cell experiment, luteinized granulosa preparations were cultured for48hours with or without <human chorionic gonadotropin> or <follicle-stimulating hormone>. The investigators separately measured steroid production and <aromatase> activity. This demonstrated several regulated biochemical outputs in the luteinized preparation.<Regulation of steroid and steroid sulfate production and aromatase activity in cultured human granulosa-luteal cells by J. Tapanainen and others>[Abstract:48h culture and separate steroid/aromatase assays]{ref}
A later assay study addressed an important measurement problem: <estradiol> accumulation depends on available androgen substrate as well as <aromatase>. After a stimulation period, investigators washed the cultured <granulosa-lutein cells> and supplied <testosterone> for a separate short assay. Changing when substrate was supplied made the test of <follicle-stimulating hormone> responsiveness more interpretable.<Improved FSH sensitisation and aromatase assay in human granulosa-lutein cells by A. Lambert and others>[Abstract: washed cultures and two-hour testosterone challenge]{ref}
A result from these cells should therefore identify the culture interval, stimulation and assay substrate. It cannot automatically describe the behavior of an unmodified <granulosa cell> at every stage of follicular development.
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