Fig. 1. HCG increases progesterone synthesis related gene expression in a time-dependent manner.
Human granulosa lutein cells were incubated with hCG (50 ng/ml) for 0, 3, or 6 hours. Cells were then harvested at different time periods for total RNA extraction followed by reverse transcription. The real-time PCR reactions were carried out using the diluted cDNA in triplicate with predesigned primers and probes for human STAR, CYP11A1 and HSD3B1, using 18S RNA as a control. *P<.05 vs. control.