Abstract
Summary
Progestin and sterol secretory capacity of rabbit ovarian interstitial tissue was investigated with and without LH. Based upon ovarian content and upon synthesis in vitro, progesterone and 20α-ol secretion increased within 5 min after intravenous injection of LH. At 2 hr after LH injection, interstitial tissue content of progesterone and 20α-ol were about 3 and 4 times larger and in vitro syntheses were 4 and 12 times larger than controls. By 8 hr after LH injection, progestin synthesis returned to near control levels and stores of cholesterol and esterified cholesterol were depleted to 60 and 23% of control levels. Synthesis by ovarian interstitial tissue of progestins and sterols in vitro was enhanced by LH in the incubation medium, especially among the rabbits not injected with LH. This steroidogenic response to LH in vitro was reduced within, 5 min and abolished within 2 hr after intravenous injection of LH.
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