Previous studies suggested a role of acetylcholine (ACh) in the regulation of the ovary. A target receptor, alpha 7 nicotinic ACh receptor (CHRNA7; encoded by CHRNA7), is expressed in the human ovary, e.g. by stromal cells, oocytes and human granulosa cells (GCs). The objective of this study was to explore its functions in cultured, in vitro fertilization (IVF)-derived GCs. For this, GCs exposed to 1% O2 were treated with the selective CHRNA7-agonist PNU 282987 for 24 h.