Translational control of protein synthesis and the control of steroidogenesis in the rabbit ovary

Abstract

The addition of luteinizing hormone (LH) to preovulatory rabbit ovaries incubated in vitro stimulated steroid synthesis. When protein synthesis was inhibited by cycloheximide or puromycin, the effect of LH on Steroidogenesis was also blocked. Actinomycin D, at concentrations which limit incorporation of cytidine-H 3 into RNA to less than 10% of that of controls, did not affect steroid synthesis. Translational control or regulation of protein synthesis at a step following synthesis of messenger RNA may regulate steroid synthesis in this system.