Basic fibroblast growth factor in rat corpus luteum stimulates prostaglandin F2-alpha production

Rat luteal cells (LC) were incubated with or without basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in a serum-free medium. Prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) production was stimulated in a dose-dependent manner at 0.03-1 ng/ml of bFGF. One ng/ml of bFGF caused approximately 5-fold the increment of PGF2 alpha at every stage of LC after 48 hrs of incubation. bFGF also raised progesterone secretion from LC, and this stimulatory effect on progesterone was more distinguishable in an early-, than a middle- and a late-stage. Additionally, bFGF concentration throughout the luteal phase was assessed using western blot analysis. The protein with typical molecular weight 18 kDa form was in high concentration throughout the luteal phase. These results suggest that bFGF may play a role in the regulation of PGF2 alpha and progesterone production as autocrine, but not in mitosis in corpus luteum.