Inhibition of Cholesterol Biosynthesis in Ovine Ovarian Follicles in vitro by Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin

Abstract

Cholesterol biosynthesis from DL-[2-14C]mevalonic acid ([l4C]MVA) was demonstrated in ovine ovarian foIlicles and isolated thecal tissues and granulosaI ceIls incubated in vitro. Thecal tissues more readily synthesized cholesterol than did granulosal ceIls when incubated separately, but in the intact follicle the newly synthesized cholesterol distributed evenly between the two tissue layers, indicating that the theca could act as a supplementary source of cholesterol for the granulosal ceIls.