Progesterone production by dispersed cells from human corpus luteum: stimulation by gonadotrophins and prostaglandin F 2 alpha; lack of response to adrenaline and isoprenaline.

Progesterone production was assessed following short-term incubations of luteal cell suspensions prepared from tissue samples of human corpora lutea obtained at specific times throughout the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Luteal cells responded rapidly and sensitively to human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG: concentration required for 50% maximum response, 0.1--1.0 i.u./ml) with a maximum level of response (five- to tenfold higher than basal production) similar to that elicited by human LH or N6,O2'-dibutyryl cyclic AMP. In the absence of gonadotrophin or in the presence of sub-maximal (but not maximal) concentrations of HCG, progesterone production by mid-luteal phase cells was stimulated by prostaglandin F 2 alpha (1 mumol/l, an effect not observed during the late-luteal phase. L-Adrenaline and L-isoprenaline failed to elicit significant increases in the level of progesterone production.