Androgens and Progestins in the Human Ovarian Follicle: Differences in the Evolution of Preovulatory, Healthy Nonovulatory, and Atretic Follicles*

Morphological and histoenzymological criteria allowed classification of large human ovarian follicles into three categories: preovulatory, healthy nonovulatory, and atretic. Follicular fluid steroids were measured in each type of follicle during various phases of the follicular portion of the menstrual cycle. Androstenedione was the principal follicular fluid androgen in all categories. Testosterone and dihydrotestosterone concentrations were, respectively, 7–9÷ and 0.4–0.8÷ that of androstenedione. Androgen concentrations were very low in preovulatory follicles. They showed a further 3-fold decrease between phase I (from the beginning of the estrogen surge to the estrogen peak) and phase III (from the LH surge to ovulation). Atretic follicles had very high concentrations of androgens. Healthy nonovulatory follicles showed intermediate levels which increased progressively during the follicular phase until the onset of atresia. Progesterone and 17-hydroxyprogesterone were present in concentrations of simil...