title: Cellular aspects of corpus luteum function in the primate.
abstract: The primate corpus luteum produces progesterone for a period of 14-16 days, at which time, in non-fertile cycles, steroidogenesis ceases and the tissue regresses. Studies completed in this laboratory have established that while luteinizing hormone (LH) is necessary to maintain luteal steroidogenesis, changes in LH secretion are not causal to luteolysis. The studies presented here demonstrate that luteal cell synthetic capacity, as reflected in steady-state levels of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) encoding steroidogenic enzymes, is maximal shortly after ovulation and steadily declines thereafter, independently of progesterone and LH secretion. In addition, the loss of luteal mRNA expression for steroidogenic enzymes following LH withdrawal occurs 24 h after the decline in progesterone levels. Finally, the detection of mRNA encoding vascular endothelial growth factor within the corpus luteum throughout the luteal phase in the subhuman primate may provide the first identification of a potential secreted, non-steroidal factor responsible for the vast degree of angiogenesis that occurs within the corpus luteum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA 15261.
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Benyo
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ravindranath
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bassett
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hutchison
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Zeleznik
mesh_terms: D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme / Q000235:genetics; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000502:physiology*; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000502:physiology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000235:genetics; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D015347:RNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D011973:Receptors, LDL / Q000235:genetics; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
chemical_list: D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D015347:RNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011973:Receptors, LDL; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D011374:Progesterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme