Ovarian Physiology: Relationship Between Plasma LH and Steroidogenesis by the Follicle and Corpus Luteum; Effect of HCG1

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Abstract
The plasma concentrations of LH, progesterone and 17-hydroxyprogesterone were measured throughout menstrual cycles of normal women. Prior to the LH surge, 17-hydroxyprogesterone levels averaged 30 ng/100 ml. Coincident with the LH surge, 17-hydroxyprogesterone rose to a peak of 200 ng/100 ml, decreased by 50% following the LH peak, and subsequently reached 200 ng/100 ml about the time of peak plasma progesterone levels. The temporal relationship between plasma LH, progesterone and 17-hydroxyprogesterone suggests that plasma 17-hydroxyprogesterone can serve as an index of follicular maturation and corpus luteum function. This is in contrast to progesterone, which reflects only corpus luteum function. When HCG was given during the luteal phase, plasma progesterone and 17-hydroxyprogesterone levels increased. HCG was ineffective during the follicular phase. In 2 women an atypical cycle was characterized by a normal LH surge coinciding with a relatively normal increase in 17-hydroxyprogesterone and followed by a short luteal phase with low plasma progesterone levels. These cycles may represent normal follicular development followed by either inadequate transformation of granulosa to lutein cells or poor corpus luteum function, the syndrome of inadequate luteinization.

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