Human growth hormone enhances progesterone production by human luteal cells in vitro. II. Evidence of a distinct effect on two luteal cell types.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the differential effect of human GH (hGH) on basal and hCG-stimulated production by cultured small and large human luteal cells.


METHODS
Distinct cultures of small and large luteal cells from early and midluteal phase.


METHODS
All corpora lutea were obtained from the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of the Catholic University, a public care center in Rome, Italy.


METHODS
Ten nonpregnant women between 31 and 43 years of age underwent surgery for various nonendocrine disorders such as leiomyomatosis.


METHODS
Corpora lutea were obtained at the time of hysterectomy.


METHODS
Small and large luteal cells were incubated with or without hCG and/or hGH at different concentrations.


RESULTS
Human GH neither at 250 nor at 500 micrograms/L increased basal P production by small luteal cells, whereas from 1,000 micrograms/L, P concentration in media was significantly increased. The concomitant treatment with ineffective doses of hCG (30 and 60 IU/L) and hGH (250 and 500 micrograms/L) enhanced P production to that obtained with the highest doses of hGH (1,000 micrograms/L or more) or hCG (125 to 250 IU/L) alone. Human GH addition did not change the amount of P release by large luteal cells at any concentration.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate a distinct and differential effect of hGH on in vitro luteal steroidogenesis by the two luteal cell types.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
N
N
Di Simone
R
R
Castellani
A
A
Lanzone
A
A
Caruso
S
S
Mancuso
D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D011374:Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D011374:Progesterone; D013006:Growth Hormone