Effect of hCG, cAMP and FSH on steroidogenesis by human corpora lutea in vitro.

Human corpora lutea of various ages were minced and incubated in the presence of hCG (10 i.u./ml), cAMP (10 mM) or FSH (20 mu/ml) and production of progesterone and oestradiol was measured. Cyclic AMP and hCG stimulated progesterone and oestradiol production during at least the mid- and late luteal phases, but FSH stimulated only oestradiol production during the early and mid-luteal phases and had no effect on progesterone production. This demonstrates that progesterone and oestradiol synthesis by the human corpus luteum can be independently controlled.