Increase of progesterone production in human and rat luteal cells by beta-adrenergic stimulation

The effects of the beta 2-adrenergic agonist hexoprenaline were studied on the progesterone production of rat and human corpora lutea and compared to hCG-induced hormone production. Human corpora lutea were obtained from healthy patients, rat corpora lutea were harvested on day 6 of pseudopregnancy. Corpora lutea were digested by trypsin and homogeneous luteal cell suspension (6 X 10(5) cells/ml) was incubated for 2 h. Hexoprenaline and hCG were added to the medium and progesterone production was measured by RIA. Hexoprenaline or hCG dose-dependently increased the progesterone production of rat luteal cells and of human cells in mid- and late luteal phase. Moreover, hexoprenaline further increased the hCG-induced hormone production. The stimulatory effect of hexoprenaline could be prevented by propranolol. It is supposed that beta 2-adrenergic stimulation induces an increase in progesterone production of luteal cells and potentiates the effects of gonadotropic hormones.