Ovarian Steroid Hormone Secretion Activity Examined After Supplementation of Green Tea Extract

This study aimed at examining the secretion activity of steroid hormones progesterone and 17β-estradiol by porcine ovarian granulosa cells after addition of green tea extract. Granulosa cells were incubated with green tea extract (at doses of 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 μg.ml-1). Another set of cells were incubated with green tea extract at the above doses along with additional supplementation of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) at 10 μg.ml-1. Release of hormones by granulosa cells was assessed by EIA after 24 h exposure. Secretion of steroid hormones was not affected either by green tea extract alone or after FSH supplementation with green tea extract. Results indicate that ovarian steroidogenesis is not affected by green tea under conditions used in the experiment.