Effect of β-Carotene and Vitamin A on Progesterone Production by Bovine Luteal Cells

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Abstract
The relationship between concentration of plasma vitamin A and f-carotene and corpora lutea was studied using 52 Holstein cows. Bovine luteinizing hormone was added to incubation tubes in doses of 0, 10, or 100 ng/ml. Regression of progresterone secretion by luteal cells in vitro on plasma .beta.-carotene was positive and significant for corpora lutea collected during the winter months when plasma .beta.-carotene was low. The two were unrelated during the summer months when .beta.-carotene was higher. Similar regressions for in vitro progesterone production and vitamin A were not significant in either season. These results suggest that in vivo .beta.-carotene status is related to bovine luteal function in vitro.