Control of human luteal steroidogenesis

The human corpus luteum (CL) undergoes a dynamic cycle of differentiation, steroid hormone production and regression during the course of non-fertile cycles. In humans and other primates, luteal steroidogenesis is absolutely dependent on pituitary-derived LH. However, changes in LH and LH receptor e...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Molecular and cellular endocrinology 2002-01, Vol.186 (2), p.137-141
Main Authors: Devoto, Luigi, Kohen, Paulina, Vega, Margarita, Castro, Olga, González, Rubén René, Retamales, Iván, Carvallo, Pilar, Christenson, Lane K, Strauss, Jerome F
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases - physiology
Animals
Cholesterol - metabolism
Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme - physiology
Chorionic Gonadotropin - physiology
Corpus Luteum - cytology
Corpus Luteum - metabolism
Corpus Luteum Maintenance - physiology
Female
Gene Expression Regulation
Granulosa Cells - metabolism
Humans
LH receptor
Luteal Phase - physiology
Luteal steroidogenesis
Luteinizing Hormone - physiology
Phosphoproteins - genetics
Phosphoproteins - physiology
Pregnancy
Primates - metabolism
Progesterone - biosynthesis
Receptors, LH - physiology
Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR)
Steroidogenic enzymes
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The human corpus luteum (CL) undergoes a dynamic cycle of differentiation, steroid hormone production and regression during the course of non-fertile cycles. In humans and other primates, luteal steroidogenesis is absolutely dependent on pituitary-derived LH. However, changes in LH and LH receptor expression do not explain the marked decline in progesterone production at the end of the luteal phase. Changes in the level of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), a gene whose expression is controlled by LH most likely account for the cyclic pattern of progesterone production. During the mid-to-late luteal phase of a fertile cycle, chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) rescues the CL, overcoming the actions of the factors inducing luteolysis. Although the agents causing regression of the CL in a non-fertile cycle are not yet known, intra-luteal growth factors and cytokines that modify the action of LH probably contribute to the reduction of StAR expression and the subsequent fall in progesterone production.
ISSN:0303-7207
1872-8057
DOI:10.1016/S0303-7207(01)00654-2