Baboon corpus luteum: size and sex steroid secretion throughout the luteal phase.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the size of the baboon corpus luteum (CL) and levels of plasma P, 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), and E2 in the ovarian vein draining it, the contralateral ovarian vein, and peripheral blood throughout the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Academic department of obstetrics and gynecology in a US medical school.


METHODS
Corpora lutea from a cohort of 27 adult cycling baboons (Papio anubis).


METHODS
Timed luteectomy.


METHODS
The authors weighed 166 CL and measured plasma P, 17-OHP, and E(2) in the blood samples obtained at luteectomy.


RESULTS
Early luteal phase corpora lutea weighed 189.1 +/- 12.3 mg (mean +/- SEM); their weight significantly increased to 239.4 +/- 8.4 mg at mid luteal phase and significantly declined to 188.3 +/- 14.0 mg in late luteal phase. Plasma P draining the CL (134.4 +/- 20.5 ng/mL in early, 167.4 +/- 18.7 ng/mL in mid, and 126.4 +/- 23.4 ng/mL in late luteal phase) was significantly higher than that in contralateral ovarian (11.0 +/- 1.4 ng/mL) and peripheral plasma (7.1 +/- 0.9 ng/mL). Similarly, levels of both plasma 17-OHP (10.9 +/- 1.5 to 15.9 +/- 2.4 ng/mL) and E2 (1.6 +/- 0.2 to 2.6 +/- 0.6 ng/mL) draining the CL were significantly higher than those from the contralateral ovary and peripheral blood (17-OHP, 1.1 +/- 0.2 ng/mL; E2, 0.2 +/- 0.05 ng/mL).


CONCLUSIONS
Largest in mid luteal phase, the baboon CL secretes P, 17-OHP, and E2 throughout the luteal phase, with the highest levels seen in the ovarian vein draining the CL in the mid compared with the early and late luteal phases.
Dawood
M Yusoff
MY
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506-9188, USA. ydawood@hsc.wvu.edu
Khan-Dawood
Firyal S
FS
D000818:Animals; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005268:Femoral Vein / Q000378:metabolism; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D009929:Organ Size; D010053:Ovary / Q000098:blood supply; D010215:Papio / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014680:Veins / Q000378:metabolism
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones