THE EFFECT OF SOME PITUITARY HORMONES ON PROGESTERONE SYNTHESIS IN VITRO BY THE LUTEINIZED OVARY OF THE COMMON OPOSSUM (DIDELPHIS MARSUPIALIS VIRGINIANA)

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Abstract
Luteinized ovaries of the opossum incubated in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer synthesized progresterone. Such synthesis could be enhanced by LH [luteinizing hormone] but not by FSH [follicle-stimulating hormone] or prolactin. The ovaries did not incorporate acetate-1-14C into progresterone but did convert cholesterol-l,2-3H and pregnenolone-7[alpha]-3H into progesterone. LH tended to stimulate cholesterol conversion into progesterone but the effect was not significant. The thesis is advanced that, regardless of the luteotrophic or luteolytic mechanisms operating in different species, LH is steroidogenic. It is suggested that the control mechanisms for the estrous cycle are simpler in marsupials than in other mammalian species and an understanding of the processes involved in marsupials would give a useful baseline for comparisons with other species.

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