Diverse effects of FSH and LH on proliferation of human ovarian surface epithelial cells

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of FSH and LH on growth regulation of normal ovarian surface epithelial (OSE) cells harvested from both premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Ovarian surface epithelial cells were obtained through brushing of the ovarian surface during surgery. FSH and LH were added to the OSE cultures and the proliferative effects were analysed using two different culture models, non-confluent and confluent cells, and two different detection methods, [3H]thymidine incorporation and a colorimetric cell number assay. FSH lowered the OSE proliferation under non-confluent conditions (10–27%), and the inhibitory effect was most pronounced among cells from postmenopausal women (P < 0.01). In the confluent model only cells from postmenopausal women showed significantly (P < 0.05) decreased proliferation. No effects of LH on OSE cells were detected. The unexpected results of an anti-proliferative effect of FSH on OSE, and the absence of effect by LH, do not support the theory that gonadotrophins are directly involved in ovarian carcinogenesis through an enhanced proliferation of OSE cells.