DIETARY CARROT RESULTS IN DIMINISHED OVARIAN PROGESTERONE SECRETION, WHEREAS A METABOLITE, RETINOIC ACID STIMULATES PROGESTERONE SECRETION IN THE IN-VITRO PERFUSED RABBIT OVARY

Objective: To determine the effects of dietary carrots and retinoic ac id on P secretion in the in vitro perfused rabbit ovary. Design: Contr olled experiment. Setting: Laboratory. Subjects: Sexually mature New Z ealand white rabbits. Intervention(s): Experiments were done in vitro using an isolated rabbit ovarian perfusion system after acute feeding of carrots or with in vitro exposure to retinoic acid. Main Outcome Me asure(s): Progesterone and E-2 were measured in aliquots taken from ar terial and venous cannulas. Result(s): Progesterone secretion during t he in vitro perfusion of six ovaries is significantly diminished after the acute feeding of carrots. Human chorionic gonadotropin-induced P secretion also is significantly reduced, Progesterone secretion during in vitro perfusion on day 1 of pseudopregnancy was significantly incr eased in the perfusate samples from ovaries taken from rabbits not acu tely fed carrots but that were exposed to retinoic acid. Progesterone secretion was increased but; only marginally significant on day 11 of pseudopregnancy in perfusate samples from ovaries exposed to retinoic acid. Conclusion(s): Rabbit ovarian P secretion may be modified by car rots and carotene metabolites. This effect on steroid secretion may co ntribute to the relationship between hypercarotenemia and alterations in menstrual function. (C) 1997 by American Society for Reproductive M edicine.