Abstract
Bovine luteal tissue slices and separately isolated luteal cells were cultured in the presence of prostagrandin F2α (PGF2α) with an without other additives to determine whether inhibition of the luteal function, which is seen in vivo, could be induced. The luteal function was assessed with reference to the content of progesterone (P) released into the media.
Samples of functional corpus luteum were collected at a slaughter house and cultured for 12 or 24 hours at 37 C using (1) a serum-free medium (basic medium) as a control and media containing (2) PGF2α alone, (3) PGF2α+filtrate of cultured bovine endometrium, (4) PGF2α+endometrial tissue, (5) serum from PGF2α+treated cattle or (6) HCG+PGF2α.
The experiment produced no evidence of marked inhibition of P secretion such as seen in vivo in any of the media used, except for the contrarily accelerated production of P in the medium containing HCG and PGF2α. The results suggested the involvement of other delicate factors or mechanism in the inhibited luteal function in vivo.
