title: The effect of melatonin on steroidogenesis by the human ovary in vitro.
abstract: Melatonin stimulated steroidogenesis in two compartments of the human ovary in vitro. In a corpus luteum of the menstrual cycle, melatonin increased progesterone synthesis in a dose related manner. Both serotonin and N-acetyl serotonin had no effect on progesterone synthesis. In the ovarian stroma, melatonin stimulated the incorporation of acetate-1-14-C into androstenedione. Binding of radioactive hCG by the corpus luteum was unaffected by melatonin. No specific binding of radioactive melatonin of low specific activity could be detected in homogenates of a human corpus luteum. These observations suggest that melatonin may directly modulate steroidogenesis in the human ovary.
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000378:metabolism; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008598:Menstruation; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011869:Radioligand Assay; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D012701:Serotonin; D000735:Androstenedione; D011374:Progesterone; D008550:Melatonin