Effects of gonadotrophins on progesterone production by isolated granulosa cells of the adenohypophysectomized domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus).

Ovine LH and ovine FSH stimulated progesterone production in granulosa cells isolated from the F1, F2 and F3 follicles of hypophysectomized and control (sham-operation) hens when they were collected 6 h after operation, but the steroidogenic response to LH was greater for granulosa cells from hypophysectomized hens. At 15 h after operation progesterone production by granulosa cells was stimulated by LH in all 3 follicle types of control hens, but only in the F1 follicles of hypophysectomized hens. The response to FSH at 15 h was similar for control and hypophysectomized hens. The time after hypophysectomy therefore appears to affect the LH-stimulated progesterone production by granulosa cells of the F2 and F3 follicles.