Effects of PGF2 alpha-induced luteolysis and progesterone on follicular growth in pregnant mice.
The effects of a luteolytic dose of prostaglandin F2 alpha on follicular development within the ovary of pregnant mice were studied in vivo and in vitro. The results showed that 1) PGF2 alpha reduced the number of growing primary follicles both in vivo and in vitro, 2) in vitro, progesterone and LH/FSH override this effect of PGF2 alpha and 3) progesterone suppresses the rate at which primary and preantral follicles grow. It is concluded that in the ovary of the pregnant mouse, progesterone regulates the number of primary follicles which start to grow; while gonadotropins and intraovarian progesterone levels control the rate at which primary and preantral follicles develop.
D000818:Animals; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011460:Prostaglandins F / Q000494:pharmacology*
D011460:Prostaglandins F; D011374:Progesterone