Paper
In vivo regulation of the steroidogenic activity of rat luteal cells by insulin

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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine the long-term effects of insulin treatment on luteal cell function. For this purpose, superovulated prepubertal rats were treated with insulin (group I) or vehicle (group C) for 9 days. Serum progesterone (P4) levels were increased in the insulin-treated group (55 ± 10 vs 134 ± 31 ng/ml, P < 0.05). Isolated luteal cells were incubated 3 h, and P4 and 20α-hydroxy-progesterone (20α-OH-P) were measured in the incubation media. A decrease in P4 levels and an increase in 20α-OH-P values [P4 (ng/ml): C = 26.6 ± 0.3; I = 20 ± 2; 20α-OH-P (ng/ml): C = 62 ± 2; I: 120 ± 7; P < 0.01] were observed in group I. In addition, progestagen (P4 + 20α-OH-P) levels were higher in group I (C = 88 ± 2; I = 140 ± 9 ng/ml; P < 0.001). When cytochrome P450SCC contents were measured by immunoblotting, a marked increase was observed in luteal cells obtained from group I. LH receptor numbers were decreased in luteal cells isolated from group I (C = 388,834 ± 14,146; I = 303,057 ± 13,392 sites/cell; P < 0.001) with a concomitantly diminished LH responsiveness. It is concluded that in vivo treatment of superovulated rats with insulin increases luteal progestagen production by increasing the content of cytochrome P450SCC.

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