title: Control of human luteal steroidogenesis: role of growth hormone-releasing hormone, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the possible effect of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), vasoactive intestinal peptide, and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide on basal and hCG-stimulated P production by human luteal cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cultures of human luteal cells from the early and midluteal phase.
  
  
  METHODS
  All corpora lutea were obtained from the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of the Università Cattolica, a public care center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten nonpregnant women between 35 and 47 years of age underwent surgery for various nonendocrine disorders, such as leiomyomatosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Corpora lutea were obtained at the time of hysterectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Luteal cells were incubated with GHRH, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide with or without hCG at different concentrations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide stimulated P production in a dose- and time-dependent manner, whereas GHRH and vasoactive intestinal peptide did not affect luteal steroidogenesis. None of the three peptides were found to synergize with hCG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide can influence human luteal steroidogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Apa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lanzone
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mastrandrea
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Miceli
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: de Feo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mancuso
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D003339:Corpus Luteum Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000502:physiology*; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C495401:ADCYAP1 protein, human; D003339:Corpus Luteum Hormones; D009479:Neuropeptides; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone