Cyclic adenosine monophosphate stimulates secretion of human chorionic gonadotropin and estrogens by human trophoblast in vitro.

ABSTRACT Addition of 1 mM dibutyryl cyclic AMP alone or in combination with 1 mM theophylline resulted in marked stimulation of the secretion of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and estrogens by human malignant trophoblast cells in continuous culture. The stimulation persisted for at least three days. These results suggest that any model postulating control of aromatizatlon in placenta by hCG via cyclic AMP must also account for the stimulation of hCG secretion by cyclic AMP.