细胞内外钙浓度变化不影响酪氨酸抗hCG致孕酮生成作用

实验取经ＰＭＳＧ－ｈＣＧ处理的未成年雌性大鼠卵巢,用胶原酶－ＤＮＡ酶消化,制得黄体细胞悬浮液,预孵育１ｈ后加入各种处理因素,继续孵育２ｈ,用放射免疫方法测孵育液中孕酮的量。结果：孵育液中含有高钙或高钾或加入Ａ２３１８７时均可增加黄体细胞基础及ｈＣＧ诱导的孕酮生成量。相反,减少钙的浓度或加入ＥＧＡＴ或戊脉胺,孕酮生成量则明显减少。酪氨酸抑制ｈＣＧ刺激的孕酮生成,但对高钙、高钾和Ａ２３１８７增加孕酮的作用没有影响,并对上述三者分别与ｈＣＧ同时作用所致孕酮生成增加也没有影响。提示：大鼠黄体细胞孕酮生成依赖于细胞内外的钙;细胞内外钙浓度的变化不影响酪氨酸抗ｈＣＧ致孕酮生成作用;钙与ｈＣＧ使孕酮增加的作用可能是通过不同机制。     

c—erbB2对大鼠黄体细胞hCG诱导的孕酮分泌的影响

采用离体细胞体外孵育法,研究反义ｃ－ｅｒｂＢ２寡脱氧核苷酸（ａｎｔｉｓｅｎｓｅ ｃ－ｅｒｂＢ２ ＯＤＮ）对大鼠黄体细胞ｈＣＧ诱导的孕酮分泌的影响,及其与外源性ｃＡＭＰ和Ｃａ＾２＋以及蛋白抑制剂放线菌酮（ＣＹＸ）之间的关系。结果表明,反义ｃ－ｅｒｂＢ２以剂量相关方式抑制黄体细胞ｈＣＧ诱导的孕酮的产生,同时使ｃ－ｅｒｂＢ２蛋白染色阳性的黄体细胞百分数下降,无义ｔａｔ ＯＤＮ没有相应的作用。１０＾－４     

胰岛素样生长因子Ⅱ对大鼠离体培养黄体细胞孕酮生成的影响

本实验观察了胰岛素样生长因子Ⅱ（ＩＧＦ－Ⅱ）对大鼠离体培养黄体细胞孕酮生长的影响,并对其作用机制进行了探讨。结果显示,ＩＧＦ－Ⅱ能显著地促进大鼠离体培养黄体细胞孕酮生成并呈剂量－效应关系,同时还能促进＾３Ｈ－亮氨酸掺入黄体细胞蛋白质的合成,促进＾３Ｈ－胸腺嘧啶掺入ＤＮＡ的合成,而上述效应分别被放线菌酮（ＣＹＸ）和放线菌素Ｄ所抑制。此外,ＩＧＦ－Ⅱ对大鼠离体黄体细胞内泊性ｃＡＭＰ和ｈＣＧ诱导的ｃＡＭ     

反义c—fos寡脱氧核苷酸对hCG诱导大鼠黄体细胞孕酮和雌二醇生成的 …

采用离体孵育大鼠黄体细胞的方法,观察了反义ｃ－ｆｏｓ寡脱氧核苷酸（反义ｃ－ｆｏｓＯＤＮ）对ｈＣＧ诱导的黄体细胞孕酮（Ｐ）和雌二醇（Ｅ２）产生的影响,同时观察了外源性ｃＡＭＰ和钙离子通道阻断剂维拉帕米对黄体细胞中ｃ－ｆｏｓ蛋白的影响。结果发现,反义ｃ－ｆｏｓＯＤＮ能呈剂量相关方式抑制ｈＣＧ诱导的黄体细胞Ｐ和Ｅ２的产生,同时使ｃ－ｆｏｓ蛋白染色阳性的黄体细胞百分数下降;而无义ｔａｔ ＯＤＮ没有相应的作     

人工合成寡肽对大鼠黄体细胞孕酮生成的调节及其可能作用机制

本实验比较了合成寡肽抗孕酮生成作用,并进行了相应机制探讨。发现当ＰＨ７．３－７．５时,能较强抑制孕酮分泌的寡肽其结构有共同特点;活性寡肽可对ＰＬＣ信使传递系统产生抑制作用。也可能通过调节黄体细胞内钙离子浓度降低了ｈＣＧ致孕酮的生成作用,甘－丝－赖还升高黄体细胞中ＰＫＣ活性,而降低了ＰＫＡ。可见人工合成寡肽的抗孕酮作用分子机制十分复杂,有待于深入探讨。     

肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)对离体兔黄体细胞孕酮分泌的影响及其作用机制

肿瘤坏死因子α(ＴＮＦα)是免疫内分泌网络中引入瞩目的一种细胞因子。近几年来发现ＴＮＦα存在于大鼠、牛、兔和人卵巢中。ＴＮＦα抑制大鼠和人黄体细胞ｃＡＭＰ生成和孕酮分泌。但ＴＮＦα对兔黄体细胞机能活动的影响目前尚未见报道。本实验研究了ＴＮＦα对兔黄体细胞机能活动的作用,并探索其作用机制,旨在了解ＴＮＦα在黄体萎缩中的作用。1　材料和方法(1)药品　重组肿瘤坏死因子α,人绒毛膜促性腺激素(ｈＣＧ)、人促性腺激素(ＦＳＨ)、Ｍ199培养基于粉、孕马血清促性腺激素(ＰＭＳＧ)、孕酮放射免疫测定药盒、ｃＡＭＰ放射免疫测定…     

GABA影响大鼠卵巢黄体细胞孕酮的生成

实验用离体培养方法观察ＧＡＢＡ对大鼠黄体细胞孕酮及羟自由基（．ＯＨ）生成的影响。结果表明：ＧＡＢＡ抑制黄体细胞孕酮的生成,同时也促进黄体细胞．ＯＨ的生成。ＧＡＢＡ对孕酮的抑制作用可能与腺苷酸环化酶系统及ＧＡＢＡＡ型受体有关,而与蛋白质合成无关。     

促乳素对促性腺激素诱导小鼠卵巢雌激素和孕酮形成的影响

给幼龄小鼠（２１－２３日龄）注射８ＩＵＰＭＳＧ促滤泡生长。４８ｈ后给一组动物只注射８ＩＵｈＣＧ,另一组注射８ＩＵｈＣＧ加１００μｇ促乳素（ＰＲＬ）。３,１２和２４ｈ后杀死动物,取血和卵巢,从后者分离颗粒细胞（ＧＣ）作离体培养。测定血清和培液中雌激素和孕激素含量表明,ＰＲＬ显著增强ｈＣＧ所致血中孕酮含量上升,但抑制ｈＣＧ所致雌激素的产生;对ＧＣ离体培养的测定结果也完全相同,上述结果表明,ＰＲＬ抑制Ｈ     

内皮素—1对大鼠排卵前卵泡颗粒细胞产生孕酮的影响

本文用离体细胞体外孵育法研究了内皮素－１（ＥＴ）对大鼠排卵前卵泡颗粒细胞孕酮生成的影响及其作用机理。结果发现,ＥＴ能显著抑制ｈＣＧ刺激下的孕酮产生,抑制作用在浓度为１０－８ｍｏｌ／Ｌ时,即有显著意义（Ｐ＜０．０５,ｎ＝６）,至１０－７ｍｏｌ／Ｌ时则有非常显著的意义（Ｐ＜０．０１,ｎ＝６）;不同浓度ＥＴ（１０－７—１０－７ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）,对颗粒细胞基础孕酮的产生无明显影响。进一步研究表明,ＥＴ对ｈＣＧ刺激下孕酮生成的抑制作用,在用免抗人内皮素抗血清（ＥＴ－Ａ）１：１０００及ｃＡＭＰ后能明显被逆转。实验中还观察到,ＥＴ使颗粒细胞ＬＨ／ｈＣＧ受体数下降,亲和力降低。本文结果提示,ＥＴ可能为卵巢内的一种局部调节肽,通过作用于ＥＴ受体,干扰ＬＨ／ｈＣＧ受体功能和ｃＡＭＰ生成而抑制颗粒细胞孕酮的产生。     

抑制素α亚基片段P33对大鼠离体培养黄体细胞凋亡的影响

我室先前的工作表明,抑制素α亚基片段Ｐ３３显著抑制离体培养大鼠黄体细胞的孕酮分泌,整体实验显示Ｐ３３促进黄体功能萎缩和细胞凋亡。本实验进一步在细胞水平探讨Ｐ３３促进黄体细胞凋亡的作用机制。应用ＤＮＡ电泳检测技术、ＤＮＡ荧光（ＡＯＥＢＰＩ）染色和流式细胞分析方法观察了Ｐ３３对ＰＭＳＧｈＣＧ假孕大鼠胶原酶ＤＮＡ酶分散的黄体细胞的自发凋亡的影响。结果三种方法一致显示,Ｐ３３（１μｇ／ｍｌ）促进黄体细胞的自发凋亡。阻断酪氨酸蛋白激酶活性（ｇｅｎｉｓｔｅｉｎ５０μｇ）则抑制Ｐ３３诱导的黄体凋亡;而阻断ＲＮＡ和蛋白质合成（Ｃｙｘ,５０μｇ／ｍｌ;ＡｃｔＤ,５０μｇ／ｍｌ）均不抑制Ｐ３３促进的黄体细胞凋亡。结果表明,Ｐ３３促进培养大鼠黄体细胞的自发凋亡,其作用机制可能与ＴＰＫ途径有关。本实验为抑制素α亚单位或其相关衍生物可能是卵巢局部调节因子之一的假说提供了又一证据。     

A comparison of the effects of cyclooxygenase prostanoids on progesterone production by small and large bovine luteal cells

Highly purified preparations of small and large bovine luteal cells were utilized to examine the effects of prostaglandins F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha), E2 (PGE2) and I2 (PGI2) analog on progesterone production. Corpora lutea were obtained from Holstein heifers between days 10 and 12 of the estrous cycle. Purified small and large cells were obtained by unit gravity sedimentation and flow cytometry. Progesterone accumulation was determined in 1 x 10(5) small and 5 x 10(3) large cells after 2 and 4 h incubations respectively. Progesterone synthesis was increased (p less than 0.05) in the small cells by the increasing levels of PGF2 alpha, PGE2, carba-PGI2 and LH. PGF2 alpha, but not PGE2 or carba-PGI2 increased (p less than 0.05) LH-stimulated progesterone production. There was no interaction of various combinations of prostaglandins on progesterone production in the small cells. In the large cells, PGF2 alpha had no effect on basal progesterone production. However, it inhibited LH-stimulated progesterone synthesis. In contrast, PGE2 and carba-PGI2 stimulated (p less than 0.05) basal progesterone production in the large cells. In the presence of LH, high levels of carba-PGI2 inhibited (p less than 0.05) progesterone synthesis. The PGE2 and PGI2-stimulated progesterone production in the large luteal cells was also inhibited in the presence of PGF2 alpha. These data suggest all of the prostaglandins used exert a luteotropic action in the small cells. In the large cells only PGE2 and carba-PGI2 are luteotropic, while PGF2 alpha exerts a luteolytic action. The effects of the prostaglandins in the small and large luteal cells suggest that their receptors are present in both cell types.     

Regulation of the corpus luteum by protein kinase C. II. Inhibition of lipoprotein-stimulated steroidogenesis by prostaglandin F2 alpha

This study was designed to examine the antisteroidogenic action of prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha on ovine luteal cells in vitro. Purified populations of large and small steroidogenic luteal cells were treated with lipoproteins, luteinizing hormone (LH), and/or PGF2 alpha. To investigate the involvement of the protein kinase C (PKC) pathway in hormone action, luteal cells were made PKC-deficient by treatment for 12 h with 1 microM phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate. Progesterone production by nonstimulated large and LH-stimulated small luteal cells was significantly increased by treatment with high- and low-density lipoprotein (HDL, 5-fold increase; LDL, 2-fold increase). PGF2 alpha inhibited (p less than 0.0001) progesterone production by HDL-stimulated large luteal cells in a dose-dependent manner, with 60 nM causing maximal inhibition. No effect of PGF2 alpha (20nM-20 microM) was found on production of progesterone by HDL-stimulated, PKC-deficient large cells or by LH- and HDL-stimulated small luteal cells. These results suggest that PGF2 alpha has a direct antisteroidogenic effect on the large luteal cell that is mediated through the PKC second messenger pathway.     

Do small and large luteal cells of the sheep interact in the production of progesterone?

Corpora lutea from cyclic ewes were dissociated by collagenase and trypsin/EGTA treatments, and enriched fractions of small and large luteal cells were prepared on gradients of Ficoll. These fractions were incubated separately or remixed before incubation. Colchicine, cytochalasin B and the calcium channel-blocker verapamil significantly reduced progesterone production by both small and large luteal cell fractions, while isoprenaline stimulated an increase in progesterone production by large luteal cell fractions only. When fractions of small and large luteal cells were remixed, no more and no less progesterone was produced than would have been predicted from equivalent fractions incubated separately. There was therefore no evidence of synergism between small and large luteal cells in the production of progesterone. Prostaglandin F-2 alpha, which can inhibit LH-stimulated progesterone production by ovine luteal tissue in vitro, had no effect on LH-stimulated progesterone production by small luteal cell fractions, but significantly inhibited that by enriched fractions of large luteal cells. Since large luteal cell fractions were contaminated with small luteal cells, which are probably responsible for the progesterone-secretory response of these fractions to LH, it was concluded that the inhibition of LH-stimulated progesterone production by small luteal cells is dependent on the presence of large luteal cells. Oxytocin added to large and small luteal cell fractions did not affect progesterone production by either fraction. It was therefore concluded that the inhibitory action of PGF-2 alpha on LH-stimulated progesterone production may require the interaction of large and small luteal cells, but that oxytocin is not likely to be an intermediary in this interaction.     

Progesterone promotes survival of the rat corpus luteum in the absence of cognate receptors

Progesterone production by the corpus luteum (CL) is essential for preparation of the endometrium for implantation and for the maintenance of gestation. Progesterone modulates its own production and opposes functional luteal regression induced by exogenous agents, such as prostaglandin F(2alpha). In the present study, we evaluated whether progesterone is also capable of interfering with the process of structural luteal regression, which is characterized by a decrease in weight and size of the gland because of programmed cell death (i.e., apoptosis). We have found that a low number of luteal cells undergo apoptosis throughout gestation. On the day of parturition, but following the initial decline in endogenous progesterone production, a small increase in the number of luteal cells undergoing cell death was observed. This increase in apoptotic cells continued postpartum, reaching dramatic levels by Day 4 postpartum, and was accompanied by a marked decrease in average luteal weight. We have established that the exogenous administration of progesterone significantly reduces the decline in luteal weight observed during structural luteal regression postpartum. This effect was associated with a decrease in the number of cells undergoing apoptosis and with enhanced circulating levels of androstenedione. Furthermore, in vivo administration of progesterone delayed the occurrence of DNA fragmentation in postpartum CL incubated in serum-free conditions. Finally, we have shown that neither the CL of gestation nor the newly formed CL after postpartum ovulation express the classic progesterone-receptor mRNA. In summary, the present results support a protective action of progesterone on the function and survival of the CL through inhibition of apoptosis and stimulation of androstenedione production. Furthermore, this effect is carried out in the absence of classic progesterone receptors.     

Progesterone production, LH receptors, and oxytocin secretion by ovine luteal cell types on days 6, 10 and 15 of the oestrous cycle and day 25 of pregnancy

Corpora lutea were collected from sheep on Days 6, 10, and 15 of the oestrous cycle and Day 25 of pregnancy and dissociated into single cell suspensions. Purified preparations of large and small luteal cells were prepared by elutriation on all days except Day 6. Basal progesterone production by large cells was 6-8-fold higher than by small cells (36-65 vs 6-9 fg/cell/min). Oxytocin secretion was maximal on Day 6 (1.0 fg/cell/min) and declined thereafter. The number of receptors for LH increased between Day 6 and Day 10 and the two cell types had an equal number of receptors on Days 10 and 15 (19,000-23,000). Large cells on Day 25 of pregnancy had fewer receptors (12,000) than did small cells (26,000). Progesterone secretion by small luteal cells from all days examined was stimulated by LH (0.01-1000 ng/ml) in a dose-dependent manner; maximum sensitivity to LH occurred on Day 10. Despite the presence of receptors for LH on large cells, LH failed to stimulate progesterone production. Basal production of progesterone by large and small cells, and the response of small cells to LH, was not influenced by day examined. Re-combinations of large and small cells from Day 10 synergized to increase progesterone secretion. Prostaglandin E-2 (0.1-1000 ng/ml) did not stimulate progesterone secretion by large or small cells.     

Effect of pregnancy, injection of oestradiol benzoate or hCG on steroid concentration and release by pig luteal cells

Corpora lutea were obtained from pig ovaries on Day 18 of pregnancy or pseudopregnancy. Pseudopregnancy was induced by the administration of oestradiol benzoate on Days 11-15 of the oestrous cycle or by the administration of hCG on Day 12. The luteal cells were prepared for morphometric analysis and investigation of steroid production in vitro by dispersion with 0.25% trypsin. A blood sample from each sow was collected at slaughter for measurement of progesterone, oestradiol-17 beta and testosterone. The concentrations of these steroids were also estimated in luteal tissue and in the medium after incubation. Progesterone concentration was significantly higher (P less than 0.01) in luteal tissue and in plasma of pregnant than of pseudopregnant sows. Testosterone content of luteal tissue from all sows was 20-fold higher than oestradiol, although plasma concentrations of these hormones were not different. The luteal cells from hCG-treated sows produced more progesterone (P less than 0.01) in vitro than did those from the other groups. The luteal cells from oestradiol-treated sows generally released smaller amounts of steroids during incubation. Treatment with hCG increased the proportion of large luteal cells and decreased the proportion of small luteal cells. These results demonstrate that hCG or oestradiol benzoate injections altered the steroidogenic activity of luteal cells and that treatment with hCG was also associated with changes in the diameter of the luteal cells and thus in the ratio of small to large luteal cells.     

Progesterone attenuates the inhibitory effects of cardiotonic digitalis on pregnenolone production in rat luteal cells

Previous studies have shown that digoxin decreases testosterone secretion in testicular interstitial cells. However, the effect of digoxin on progesterone secretion in luteal cells is unclear. Progesterone is known as an endogenous digoxin-like hormone (EDLH). This study investigates how digitalis affected progesterone production and whether progesterone antagonized the effects of digitalis. Digoxin or digitoxin, but not ouabain, decreased the basal and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-stimulated progesterone secretion as well as the activity of cytochrome P450 side chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc) in luteal cells. 8-Br-cAMP and forskolin did not affect the reduction. Neither the amount of P450scc, the amount of steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein, nor the activity of 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD) was affected by digoxin or digitoxin. Moreover, in testicular interstitial and luteal cells, progesterone partially attenuated the reduction of pregnenolone by digoxin or digitoxin and the progesterone antagonist, RU486, blocked this attenuation. These new findings indicated that (1) digoxin or digitoxin inhibited pregnenolone production by decreasing the activity of P450scc enzyme, but not Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, resulting in a decrease on progesterone secretion in rat luteal cells, and (2) the inhibitory effect on pregnenolone production by digoxin or digitoxin was reversed partially by progesterone. In conclusion, digoxin or digitoxin decreased progesterone production via the inhibition of pregnenolone by decreasing P450scc activity. Progesterone, an EDLH, could antagonize the effects of digoxin or digitoxin in luteal cells.     

Regulation of the corpus luteum by protein kinase C. I. Phosphorylation activity and steroidogenic action in large and small ovine luteal cells

The activity and steroidogenic action of protein kinase C were evaluated in small and large steroidogenic ovine luteal cells. Protein kinase C activity (per mg protein) was threefold greater in large than in small luteal cells, whereas protein kinase A activity was similar in the two cell types. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) activated protein kinase C in luteal cells as demonstrated by membrane association of 91% of available protein kinase C within 15 min of PMA treatment. Longer treatments with PMA produced cells with low protein kinase C activity (protein kinase C-deficient cells) but did not affect cellular viability or protein kinase A activity. Activation of protein kinase C caused an acute, dose-dependent inhibition of progesterone production in unstimulated large and luteinizing hormone (LH)-stimulated small luteal cells. This inhibition by PMA appeared to be specific for protein kinase C since it was greatly attenuated in protein kinase C-deficient cells and since an inactive phorbol ester, 4 alpha-phorbol, had no effect on luteal progesterone production. The inhibitory locus of protein kinase C action in small luteal cells appeared to be distal to the adenylate cyclase enzyme because progesterone production was inhibited similarly in cells stimulated with LH, forskolin, or dibutyryl cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate. Cholesterol side-chain cleavage activity, as measured by metabolism of 25-hydroxycholesterol, was inhibited by PMA in large, but not in small, luteal cells. These data indicate that activation of protein kinase C specifically inhibits progesterone production in both large and small ovine luteal cells, although the intracellular mechanisms invoked appear to differ in the two cell types.     

Leptin in the bovine corpus luteum: receptor expression and effects on progesterone production

In cattle, leptin has been implicated in the control of ovarian function and has been shown to modulate steroid production by theca and granulosa cells in a number of species. However, a direct effect of leptin on bovine luteal function has not been demonstrated. This study was conducted to determine if the leptin receptor (OB-R) is expressed in the bovine corpus luteum (CL), and to examine the effects of leptin on progesterone production by dispersed luteal cells in vitro. RT-PCR was used to detect the presence of OB-R and, more specifically, the long, biologically active isoform (OB-Rb), in CL, collected on days 2-18 of the oestrous cycle (n=18). The effects of leptin on progesterone production were investigated in dispersed luteal cells prepared from CL collected on days 5 and 8 (n=14) of the cycle. The dispersed luteal cells were cultured for 24 hr with recombinant human leptin and/or LR3-IGF-1 and/or LH. OB-Rs, in particular, OB-Rb, were expressed in the CL at all stages of development. Progesterone production by luteal cells was increased (P<0.001) by treatment with LH (10 ng/ml) but treatment with leptin alone had no effect. However, in the presence of IGF-1 (100 ng/ml), leptin (10 ng/ml) caused a significant (P<0.005) increase in progesterone production. In conclusion, we have shown that the leptin receptor is expressed in the bovine CL and have demonstrated a modulatory effect of leptin on luteal progesterone production in vitro.     

Second messenger systems and progesterone secretion in the small cells of the bovine corpus luteum: effects of gonadotropins and prostaglandin F2a

The present studies were conducted to determine the effects of gonadotropins (LH and hCG) and prostaglandin F2a (PGF2a) on the production of "second messengers" and progesterone synthesis in purified preparations of bovine small luteal cells. Corpora lutea were removed from heifers during the luteal phase of the normal estrous cycle. Small luteal cells were isolated by unit-gravity sedimentation and were 95-99% pure. LH provoked rapid and sustained increases in the levels of [3H]inositol mono-, bis-, and trisphosphates (IP, IP2, IP3, respectively), cAMP and progesterone in small luteal cells. LiCl (10 mM) enhanced inositol phosphate accumulation in response to LH but had no effect on LH-stimulated cAMP or progesterone accumulation. Time course studies revealed that LH-induced increases in IP3 and cAMP occurred simultaneously and preceded the increases in progesterone secretion. Similar dose-response relationships were observed for inositol phosphate and cAMP accumulation with maximal increases observed with 1-10 micrograms/ml of LH. Progesterone accumulation was maximal at 1-10 ng/ml of LH. LH (1 microgram/ml) and hCG (20 IU/ml) provoked similar increases in inositol phosphate, cAMP and progesterone accumulation in small luteal cells. 8-Bromo-cAMP (2.5 mM) and forskolin (1 microM) increased progesterone synthesis but did not increase inositol phosphate accumulation in 30 min incubations. PGF2a (1 microM) was more effective than LH (1 microgram/ml) at stimulating increases in inositol phosphate accumulation (4.4-fold vs 2.2-fold increase for PGF2a and LH, respectively). The combined effects of LH and PGF2a on accumulation of inositol phosphates were slightly greater than the effects of PGF2a alone. In 30 min incubations, PGF2a had no effect on cAMP accumulation and provoked small increases in progesterone secretion. Additionally, PGF2a treatment had no significant effect on LH-induced cAMP or progesterone accumulation in 30 min incubations of small luteal cells. These findings provide the first evidence that gonadotropins stimulate the cAMP and IP3-diacylglycerol transmembrane signalling systems in bovine small luteal cells. PGF2a stimulated phospholipase C activity in small cells but did not reduce LH-stimulated cAMP or progesterone accumulation. These results also demonstrate that induction of functional luteolysis in vitro requires more than the activation of the phospholipase C-IP3/calcium and -diacylglycerol/protein kinase C transmembrane signalling system.