Steroid Hormone Formation in the Human Ovary: II. Action of Gonadotropinsin Vitroin the Corpus Luteum

Abstract

Steroidogenesis in human corpora lutea obtained from women during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and from women with ectopic pregnancy is stimulated by the addition in vitro of hormones of human origin with luteinizing action. Human chorionic gonadotropin and human pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH) were active; no effect was observed with ovine luteinizing hormone or prolactin. The stimulation of steroidogenesis was assessed by the increase in incorporation of acetate-1-¹⁴C into progesterone, 20α-hydroxy-Δ⁴-pregnen-3-one, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, Δ⁴-androstene-3,17-dione, estradiol-17β and estrone. The corpora lutea from ectopic pregnancy showed a higher incorporation of radioactivity into all steroids than corpora lutea of the menstrual cycle.