Objective:The purpose of this study was to determine if insulin or insulin-like growth factors (IGF) either alone or in combination with estradiol (E2) could maintain progesterone secretion by rabbit luteal cells in culture.
Methods:Progesterone secretion was measured in media of luteal cell cultures incubated in serum-free media alone or containing E2 with or without added insulin, IGF-I or IGF-II.
Results:Progesterone production by rabbit luteal cells in culture fell precipitously in serum-free media containing E2, IGF-I, IGF-II, or insulin alone. However, when E2 was combined with insulin, IGF-I, or IGF-II, serum progesterone production was stimulatewd two- to fivefold above control levels.
Conclusion:There is an important synergism between insulin/IGF and E2 in regulating luteal steroidogenesis.
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