The effect of glucose 2-deoxy-D-glucose and insulin on estradiol secretion by cultured human trophoblast

Human trophoblasts were isolated in a monolayer cell culture and the effect of extra-and intracellular glucopenia on estradiol secretion was studied. Term placentas were dispersed by repeated short term trypsinization and 2×10⁶ cells plated in each dish. The de novo synthesis of estradiol was demonstrated by a 10 fold increase in estradiol secretion by supplementation of androstendione. Incubation with dibutyryl cyclic AMP produced a dose dependent increase in estradiol secretion. Low glucose (10 mg/dl) medium enhanced estradiol secretion when compared to a medium containing 50–100 mg/dl glucose. Intracellular glucopenia by 2-deoxyglucose produced an increase in estradiol secretion. The results indicate negative dependency of estradiol secretion by the trophoblast on intracellular glucose.