Endocrine Abstracts

Neuropeptide PACAP 38 expressed in steroidogenic ovarian cells of rat could be an auto- or paracrine regulator of progesterone synthesis. Moreover, it has been shown that PACAP38 can affect ovarian secretion of prostaglandins. The first and rate-limiting step in the biosynthesis of progesterone is the transfer of cholesterol into mitochondria which is facilitated by the cycloheximide-sensitive steroid acute regulator (StAR) protein. StAR protein has been established as an esse...