Correlation of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP accumulation and steroidogenesis during stimulation of bovine luteal cells with luteinizing hormone.

The relationship between LH-induced steroidogenesis and the production of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP was studied as a function of LH dose and time in isolated luteal cells from pregnant cows. Submaximal steroidogenic concentrations of LH caused a transient but significant rise in cyclic AMP that peaked after incubation for 5 min. A consequent rise in progesterone occurred at 30 min even though cyclic AMP had returned to the basal level at that time. Higher steroidogenic doses of LH elicited a maximum increase of cyclic AMP at 5 min and this was sustained for up to 1 h; the related progesterone production was significantly raised at 15 min and reached a maximum plateau at 30 min. The corresponding levels of cyclic GMP did not appear to be altered by any of the LH concentrations used. The present study has provided direct evidence that even at very low doses of LH, cyclic AMP plays an intermediary role in the stimulation of steroidogenesis in a mixed population of cells isolated from the bovine corpus luteum. Cyclic GMP, on the other hand, did not appear to play a role in the action of LH on the same population of luteal cells.