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Horm Metab Res 2014; 46(02): 133-137
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1357167
Original Basic
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Effects of Progesterone and its Metabolites on Human Granulosa Cells

D. Pietrowski
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
2   Fertility Center Döbling, Vienna, Austria
,
Y. Gong
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
3   The first Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
,
M. Mairhofer
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
,
R. Gessele
4   Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, Munich, Germany
,
M. Sator
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
2   Fertility Center Döbling, Vienna, Austria
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 02 July 2013

accepted 12 September 2013

Publication Date:
17 October 2013 (online)

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Abstract

The corpus luteum (CL) is under control of gonadotrophic hormones and produces progesterone, which is necessary for endometrial receptivity. Recent studies have shown that progesterone and its metabolites are involved in cell proliferation and apoptosis of cancer cells. Here weanalyzed the role of progesterone and its meta­bolites on luteinized granulosa cells (LGC) by FACS analysis and quantitative Real-Time PCR. We detected the mRNA of the progesterone metabolizing genes SRD5A1, AKR1C1, and AKR1C2 in LGC. The stimulation of LGC with progesterone or progesterone metabolites did not show any effect on the mRNA expression of these genes. However, a downregulation of Fas expression was found to be accomplished by progesterone and human chorionic gonadotropin. Our findings do not support the concept of an effect of progesterone metabolites on LGCs. However, it suggests an antiapoptotic effect of hCG and progesterone during corpus luteum development by downregulation of Fas.

Key words

chorionic gonadotropin - apoptosis - in vitro fertilization - corpus luteum
 

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