The effect of cloprostenol on human luteal steroid and prostaglandin secretion in vitro.

1 Human luteal tissue slices from days 18, 21 and 25 of the menstrual cycle were superfused in vitro with Medium 199 alone or containing cloprostenol (1 microgram/ml). Concentrations of progesterone, oestradiol-17beta and prostaglandins F2alpha and E2 were determined in the superfusate samples. 2 Secretion of steroids and prostaglandins was maintained at an approximately constant level throughout the experiments (21 h in one case) when the tissue was perfused with M199 alone. 3 Superfusion with cloprostenol (1 microgram/ml) resulted in an initial depression of progesterone and oestradiol-17beta but this was not maintained, levels returning to control values or showing an increase, while superfusion with cloprostenol continued. Cloprostenol is not therefore considered to be luteolytic at this dose and under these conditions for human luteal tissue in vitro. 4 Superfusion with cloprostenol (1 microgram/ml) also resulted in a large stimulation of secretion of endogenous prostaglandin F2 alpha following a short lag phase. This stimulation was possibly due to the initial depression of progesterone secretion. A short-lived stimulation of prostaglandin E2 secretion was also observed. 5 The significance of the increase in prostaglandin E2 secretion and the interrelationships between the various changes observed with cloprostenol are difficult to interpret.