Impaired steroidogenesis and apoptosis of granulosa-luteal cells in primary culture induced by cis-platinum.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that the cytotoxic drug cis-platinum (CP) induces premature ovarian failure by reducing the viability of human granulosa cells.

Study Design: We incubated cultured human granulosa-luteal cells (GLCs) with varying concentrations of CP for 48 hours. Steroidogenesis and apoptosis were assessed by progesterone and estradiol, annexin V/propidium iodide, phase contrast, and transmission electron microscopy.

Results: CP caused impaired production of progesterone and estradiol in a dose- and a time-dependent fashion. The estradiol production was more pronounced than progesterone for each concentration of CP that was studied. The phase contrast microscopy of CP-treated GLCs showed loss of cell number with condensed nuclei. CP-induced apoptosis was maximum at 20 μg/mL compared with a 10-μg/mL concentration (79.9% ± 4.6% vs 58.3% ± 3.9%; P < .01). The hallmark of apoptosis (ie, nuclear condensation, cell size shrinkage) was seen in CP-treated cells by transmission electron microscopy.

Conclusion: CP induces apoptosis of human GLCs in culture with impaired steroidogenesis, which may be one mechanism by which a CP-containing regime induces premature ovarian failure.