Platelets bind to rhesus monkey corpora lutea and stimulate its prostaglandin synthesis

The in vitro production of different prostaglandins (PGs) was studied in rhesus monkey corpora lutea incubated with labeled arachidonic acid. The percentage of conversion of the arachidonic acid to all the PGs identified was similar, but the addition of platelet lysates caused at least a sevenfold stimulation of all PGs by the corpora lutea, the greatest stimulation in production occurring in the area corresponding to PGE2 and 15-keto-PGF2 alpha. Adipose tissue by itself produced more PGs than corpus luteum (CL); but, in contrast, such production was inhibited by addition of platelet lysates to the levels of conversion of the unstimulated CL. 125I-labeled platelets bound specifically to monkey CL, but not to adipose tissue. The interaction of the platelets with the CL in the formation of PGs may be of significance in the regulation of the luteal life span.