Regulation of progesterone production in human term trophoblasts in vitro by CRH, ACTH and cortisol (prednisolone).
BACKGROUND
In most mammals, onset of labor is accompanied with progesterone withdrawal. In humans, cortisol blockade of progesterone is a possible mechanism involved in the initiation of labor. Therefore, aim of the study was to clarify the effect of CRH, ACTH and cortisol (prednisolone) on the release of progesterone by term trophoblast cells in vitro.


METHODS
Cytotrophoblast cells were prepared from human term placentas by standard dispersion of villous tissue followed by a percoll gradient centrifugation step. Trophoblasts were incubated with CRH, ACTH as well as with prednisolone.


RESULTS
The release of progesterone is decreased in CRH- and ACTH-treated trophoblast cell cultures compared to untreated trophoblast cells. Addition of prednisolone in varying concentrations leads to an increase of trophoblast progesterone production.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that CRH and ACTH directly modulate the endocrine function of trophoblasts in culture by downregulating progesterone production. Prednisolone on the other hand showed a stimulating effect on progesterone production in term trophoblast cells in vitro. Because blockade of progesterone is a possible mechanism involved in initiation of labor, we may speculate that CRH and ACTH are directly involved in the auto- or paracrine regulation of this procedure.
Jeschke
Udo
U
1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Maistrasse 11, 80337 Munich, Germany. udo.jeschke@med.uni-muenchen.de
Mylonas
Ioannis
I
Richter
Dagmar-Ulrike
DU
Höcker
Ingo
I
Briese
Volker
V
Makrigiannakis
Antonis
A
Friese
Klaus
K
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011374:Progesterone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D011239:Prednisolone; D006854:Hydrocortisone