The effect of insulin and insulin-like growth factors on luteal progesterone secretion in the rabbit.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine if insulin or insulin-like growth factors (IGF) either alone or in combination with estradiol (E2) could maintain progesterone secretion by rabbit luteal cells in culture.


METHODS
Progesterone secretion was measured in media of luteal cell cultures incubated in serum-free media alone or containing E2 with or without added insulin, IGF-I or IGF-II.


RESULTS
Progesterone production by rabbit luteal cells in culture fell precipitously in serum-free media containing E2, IGF-I, IGF-II, or insulin alone. However, when E2 was combined with insulin, IGF-I, or IGF-II, serum progesterone production was stimulated two- to fivefold above control levels.


CONCLUSIONS
There is an important synergism between insulin/IGF and E2 in regulating luteal steroidogenesis.
Miller
J B
JB
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Illinois at Chicago 60612-7313, USA.
Obasiolu
C
C
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D005260:Female; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits
D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D007328:Insulin; D011374:Progesterone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II