A POSSIBLE INTERRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GONADOTROPHIN STIMULATION AND PROSTAGLANDIN F2α INHIBITION OF STEROIDOGENESIS BY GRANULOSA-LUTEAL CELLS IN VITRO

Abstract

SUMMARY: The newly formed corpus luteum of many species is refractory to the lytic action of prostaglandin F_2α (PGF_2α). This phenomenon was studied utilizing porcine, bovine and human granulosa-luteal cells in tissue culture. The steroidogenic potential of the granulosa-luteal cells was critical in determining whether PGF_2α could inhibit progesterone production. Since the steroidogenic potential of the granulosa-luteal cell is related to the amount of LH bound to the cell, the bound LH may protect the granulosa-luteal cells from the lytic action of PGF_2α. Finally, a 'see-saw' type of interaction between LH and PGF_2α is postulated to account for the resistance of the newly formed corpus luteum to PGF_2α