In recent work by Dr. Prasanthi Koganti, published in the Journal of Endocrinology [article], we present a reformed model that is much closer in reference to physiology to study the cellular and molecular basis of mammalian steroidogenesis. Our findings dispel a long-held view that the use of serum could confound or interfere with trophic stimulation and underscore the need for exogenous lipoproteins when dissecting physiological signaling and cholesterol trafficking for steroid biosynthesis in vitro.