Stimulation of lactate production in human granulosa cells by metformin and potential involvement of adenosine 5' monophosphate-activated protein kinase.

Context: Production of 3-carbon units (as lactate) by granulosa cells (GCs) is important in follicular and oocyte development and may be modulated by metformin.

Objective: The aim of the study was to examine the action of metformin on GC lactate production and potential mediation via AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK).

Design: GCs were prepared from follicular aspirates.

Insulin and human chorionic gonadotropin cause a shift in the balance of sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP) isoforms toward the SREBP-1c isoform in cultures of human granulosa cells.

The isoforms of sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBP) (1a, 1c, and 2) are key transcriptional regulators of lipid biosynthesis. We examined their regulation by gonadotropin and insulin in human granulosa cells. After removal of leukocytes, granulosa cells were exposed to hormonal additions for 16 h starting on d 2 of culture.