Action of metformin on the insulin-signaling pathway and on glucose transport in human granulosa cells.

Context: Hyperinsulinemia in polycystic ovary syndrome is widely treated with the insulin sensitizer metformin, which, in addition to its systemic effects, directly affects the ovarian insulin-stimulated steroidogenesis pathway.

Objective: Our aim was to investigate the interaction of metformin with the other insulin-stimulated ovarian pathway, namely that leading to glucose uptake.

Design: Human granulosa-luteal cells were cultured with metformin (10(-7) M), insulin (10 ng/ml) or metformin and insulin (met + ins) combined.