theca lutein cell
theca-lutein cell

Theca lutein cells are also known as small luteal cells.

Theca lutein cells secrete androgens and progesterone.

After rupture of the mature ovarian follicle, the theca interna cells differentiate into the theca lutein cells of the corpus luteum.

For example, a lower plating density makes granulosa cells exhibit estrogen production, while a higher plating density makes them appear as progesterone-producing theca lutein cells.

Like the previous theca cells, the theca lutein cells lack the aromatase enzyme that is necessary to produce estrogen, so they can only perform steroidogenesis until formation of androgens.

The granulosa lutein cells do have aromatase, and use it to produce estrogens, using the androgens previously synthesized by the theca lutein cells, as the granulosa lutein cells in themselves do not have the 17α-hydroxylase or 17,20 lyase to produce androgens.