Effect of FSH on progesterone secretion by porcine large and small luteal cells isolated from early-developing corpora lutea

Summary

Isolated porcine luteal cells from d 0—3 of the estrous cycle (estrus — d 0) were incubated with or without addition of 0, 10, 10² or 10³ ng FSH/ml. Progesterone (P₄) content was determinated after 24 hrs of incubation.

In nonstimulated conditions the basal P₄ production of large cells (LC_s) was 65 fold higher than that of small cells (SC_s). The LC_s but not SC_s were stimulated by doses of 10 and 10² ng FSH. FSH in doses of 10 and 10² ng did not influence P₄ production by SC_S, but higher doses (10³ ng) significantly decreased their P₄ secretion.

The results indicated that FSH can have a distinct cellular luteotropic effect during the early development luteal phase of the pig. FSH influenced P₄ secretion by LC_S whereas, with SC_s it had no effect (10 and 10² ng) or P₄ secretion decreased (10³ ng).

FSH - corpus luteum - pigs - progesterone secretion