It has been reported that success at in-vitro fertilization/embryo transfer (IVF/ET) treatment is increased by follicular fluid (FF) re-injected into the abdomen. In the present study a possible direct effect of FF on human granulosa cell (GC) progesterone (P4) secretion and LH/human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) receptor content was studied in the presence and absence of FSH. Human GC cultured for 8 days in medium alone showed a 40-fold decrease in P4 secretion. Addition of human FSH increased P4 secretion and [125I]HCG specific binding by 12- and 8-fold, respectively, compared to human GC cultured in medium alone. The effect of FF was evaluated in a heterologous system by the addition of FF from large antral porcine follicles (LFF) to human GC in culture. The decline in human GC-P4 secretion after 8 days of culture was not altered by either porcine serum alone or porcine LFF alone. However, the concomitant addition of FSH and LFF significantly increased [125I]HCG specific binding, but did not alter the FSH-induced P4 secretion when both parameters were compared to GC cultured in FSH + porcine serum. Furthermore, the addition of HCG alone significantly increased P4 secretion 33- and 70-fold in GC pre-cultured with either FSH alone or FSH + LFF respectively compared with the stimulatory effect of HCG on GC pre-cultured in medium alone. These results may suggest that FSH and LFF increase the functional content of LH/HCG receptor in luteinized human GC.