Effects of melatonin on progesterone production by human granulosa lutein cells in culture.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that melatonin modulates steroid synthesis in the human ovary.


METHODS
Granulosa lutein cells obtained from in vitro fertilization cycles were cultured in medium containing melatonin and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).


RESULTS
Progesterone (P) secretion by granulosa lutein cells increased progressively in both basal and hCG-stimulated conditions, up to 96 hours in culture, plateaued at 144 and decreased thereafter. Melatonin (10(-7), 10(-9), 10(-11) M) had no effect on basal P or 17 beta-estradiol production. The addition of melatonin to the hCG-treated granulosa lutein cells significantly (P less than 0.05) potentiated the stimulatory effect of hCG on P production. The effect was most prominent after 144 and 196 hours of incubation.


CONCLUSIONS
This observation suggests a role for melatonin in the intraovarian control of P production in the human ovary.
Brzezinski
A
A
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
Fibich
T
T
Cohen
M
M
Schenker
J G
JG
Laufer
N
N
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004958:Estradiol / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008184:Luteal Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D008550:Melatonin