Stimulation of prostaglandin F synthesis by luteinizing hormone in rabbit ovarian follicles grown in organ culture

Pre-ovulatory follicies of rabbits were cultivated in organ culture dishes for 3 days in media with or without luteinizing hormone (LH). Prostaglandin F (PGF) levels were measured in the media harvested after various incubation periods. PGF levels found in media were very low (between 0.55 ± 0.19 ng and 0.91 ± 0.15 ng per follicle) throughout incubation periods in the absence of LH. In the LH-treated group, PGF levels were significantly higher than those in corresponding controls, at every time interval. Within the treated group, PGF concentration rose sharply, reaching maximal levels between 12 and 36 hours (11.25 ± 3.08 ng and 11.33 ± 5.04 ng per follicle), then fell but still remained above basal level (1.63 ± 0.55 ng per follicle) by 72 hours.