Effect of genistein, tyrphostin and herbimycin on prolactin-stimulated progesterone production by porcine theca and luteal cells.

The potential involvement of protein tyrosine kinases (PTK) in the mechanism of prolactin (Prl) action on ovarian cell steroidogenesis has not been elucidated and information about research on this subject is scarce. In this preliminary study pharmacological intervention was used to provide support for a possible involvement of tyrosine kinases in prolactin induction of progesterone secretion by porcine thecal and luteal cells. Material used in this experiment were cultures of porcine follicular theca interna and early corpus luteum cells. The former were isolated from, proestrous preovulatory follicles and the latter were obtained by enzymatic dispersion of luteal tissue. Three of tyrosine kinase inhibitors, genistein, herbimycin and tyrphostin, were applied. They act through different mechanisms, partially blocking Prl-stimulated progesterone secretion. Herbimycin at a dose of 3 microM inhibited Prl-stimulated progesterone secretion beneath the control level in theca and by 70% in luteal cells. Genistein at a dose of 45 microM inhibited Prl-stimulated progesterone secretion beneath the control level in theca and down to the control in luteal cells. On the other hand, tyrphostin at a dose of 100 microM only slightly suppressed Prl-stimulated progesterone secretion by thecal and luteal cells (33% and 40% respectively). This investigation is the first search for evidence of involvement of tyrosine kinases in Prl-stimulated progesterone production by ovarian cells in the pig.