In-vitro synthesis of a low molecular weight lipid-soluble luteotrophic factor by conceptuses of cows at day 13-18 of pregnancy.

Two culture systems for maintenance of Day 13-18 conceptus tissue were developed. Harvested culture media were assayed for luteotrophic activity by determining their ability to stimulate progesterone synthesis by dispersed bovine luteal cells. Significant luteotrophic activity was found in 80% of the 31 tissue culture media studied. A series of experiments carried out to determine the nature of the luteotrophic activity indicate that it is a small (Mr less than 10,000), heat-labile, lipid-soluble substance that is adsorbed by dextran-coated charcoal. The nature and activity of this factor, together with its synthesis by the early bovine conceptus, suggest that it may have a significant role in stimulating progesterone synthesis by the corpus luteum during early pregnancy.