Abstract
Summary
Rabbit corpora lutea were incubated with estradiol 17-β to verify a direct stimulatory role of estrogen on progesterone biosynthesis. A significant increase in net progesterone and 20α-ol synthesis was obtained with no concurrent alteration in free and esterified cholesterol content of luteal tissue. Pretreatment with aminoglutethimide in vivo resulted in accumulation of cholesterol in luteal tissue, but estrogen failed to stimulate progesterone synthesis above control levels.
These results demonstrate a direct effect of estradiol on rabbit corpora lutea in vitro, but suggest the possibility of a unique sterjo-dogenic mechanism for the species.
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