This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by STOUFFER, R. L. Articles by OTTOBRE, J. S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by STOUFFER, R. L. Articles by OTTOBRE, J. S.

Characterization of Corpora Lutea in Monkeys after Superovulation with Human Menopausal Gonadotropin or Follicle-Stimulating Hormone^*

R. L. STOUFFER, G. D. HODGEN, P. E. GRAVES, D. R. DANFORTH, K. M. EYSTER and J. S. OTTOBRE

Department of Physiology, University of Arizona College of Medicine Tucson, Arizona 85724
Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School Norfolk, Virginia 23501

Address requests for reprints to: Dr. R. Stouffer, Oregon Regional Primate Research Center, 505 N.W. 185th Avenue, Beaverton, Oregon 97006.

The objective of this study was to characterize the corpora lutea(CL) of superovulatory follicles, which form in nonhuman primates after treatment with exogenous gonadotropins. Adult female rhesus monkeys (n = 15) with amenorrhea or irregular menstrual cycles received im injections of either human menopausal gonadotropin [hMG; equivalent amounts (37.5 IU) of hFSH and hLH] or human FSH (37.5 IU) twice daily for 6 or 9 days. One day later, hCG (1000 IU) was administered to induce ovulation. Serum estradiol levels rose rapidly in hMG-treated monkeys. In contrast, estradiol levels did not rise in FSH-treated animals for 3–4 days, but ultimately reached concentrations comparable to or greater than those in hMG-treated monkeys. Serum progesterone levels were low in all groups before hCG injection, but rose thereafter. Peak proges-terone levels were greater (P < 0.05) in 9- vs. 6-day treatment groups. Serum concentrations of hCG peaked within 24 h of injection and declined to undetectable levels 6–7 days later. The mass of luteinized tissue removed 7 days after hCG injection was markedly (P < 0.01) increased in hMG- and FSH-treated monkeys compared to that of the active CL of the natural menstrual cycle (n = 6). However, the protein content of luteal tissue from FSH-treated monkeys was less (P < 0.05) than that i n hMG-treated groups or in the CL of the natural cycle. Luteal particulate fractions from all treatment groups had [¹²⁵I]human LH binding sites, with the K_d for LH interaction comparable to that in the CL of the natural cycle. However, the LH-binding capacity in hMG-treated groups was less (P < 0.05) than that in the CL of the cycle, when normalized per mg tissue wt or protein. Notably, the binding capacity in FSH-treated groups was comparable to that in the CL cycle when expressed per mg protein. Nevertheless, only after 6 days (not 9 days) of FSH treatment or 9 days (not 6 days) of hMG treatment did tissues have a LH-sensitive (activation constant) or LH-responsive adenylate cyclase comparable to that in the CL of the cycle. Thus, properties of the primate CL after superovulation varied markedly with the type and length of gonadotropin treatment employed for follicular stimulation. The findings support the concept that gonadotropin-regulated events in the developing follicle(s) are important determinants of the subsequent character of the primate CL.

^* This work was supported in part by NIH Grants HD-12333 and HL-0724.

Recipient of NIH Research Career Development Award HD-00488.

Received November 19, 1985.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N. S. Macklon, R. L. Stouffer, L. C. Giudice, and B. C. J. M. Fauser The Science behind 25 Years of Ovarian Stimulation for in Vitro Fertilization Endocr. Rev., April 1, 2006; 27(2): 170 - 207. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Oneda, T. Ihara, and K. Hamana Ovarian Response to Exogenous Gonadotropins in Infant Cynomolgus Monkeys Hidenobu Sameshima International Journal of Toxicology, June 1, 1996; 15(3): 194 - 204. [Abstract] [PDF]