Endocrine Abstracts

The mammalian corpus luteum secretes progesterone under the influence of luteinizing hormone (LH). LH acts by binding to its G-protein coupled receptor and elevating intracellular cAMP thus activating protein kinase A (PKA). However, the exact role of PKA in the regulation of progesterone secretion remains unelucidated. Thus in this study we have investigated the relationship between PKA expression/activity and progesterone secretion during luteinization. Human granulosa cells...

Gonadotrophins such as luteinizing hormone (LH) and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) exert their actions on progesterone (P4) synthesis, at least in part, by regulating luteal cell phosphorylation via ser/thr kinases particularly cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). Hence the aim of this study was to identify changes in P4 secretion and PKA expression during luteinization of human granulosa cells (GCs) in vitro. GCs, obtained from follicular asp...

In human granulosa-lutein (hGL) cells, cortisol (F) is inter-converted with cortisone (E) by 11BHSD. To date two isoforms of 11BHSD have been cloned. Human granulosa cells have been shown to express 11BHSD2 mRNA during the follicular phase of the ovarian cycle, switching to 11BHSD1 mRNA expression as luteinization occurs. However, it is not known whether (1) the protein expression, and (2) the 11BHSD enzyme activities reflect this pattern of mRNA expression. Hence, the aims of...

Cervical dilatation and myometrial contractions are essential processes of both pre-term and term labour. These processes are associated with enhanced production of 2-series prostaglandins (PGs) from polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), by feto-placental tissues. Some human epidemiological studies suggest that specific PUFAs can alter the length of gestation. The amnion is a prime site for PG synthesis in the feto-placental unit. Thus perturbations of PG synthesis in this tiss...