Effect of ovine LH on the progesterone content of the granulosa cells in preovulatory follicles of the domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus)

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Abstract
Layings hens were injected i.v. with a single dose of ovine luteinizing hormone (LH) (100 .mu.g) 6-8 h after a known ovulation, i.e., when plasma LH concentrations are low. Groups of 4 birds were killed at 15 min intervals up to 1 h after injection and the complete granulosa was obtained from 4 or 5 of the largest preovulatory follicles of each bird for progesterone measurement by GLC. Compared with the saline-injected controls which had negligible progesterone levels, granulosa progesterone increased in all LH-treated birds. The maximum response (mean progesterone content 1966 ng/follicle) occurred 45 min after injection, but there was a significant decline by 60 min. The granulosa cells evidently provide most of the preovulatory plasma progesterone increase.