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Female rats were treated with triethylenemelamine (Tretamine; TEM) with a dose of 0.4 mg/kg body weight and 0.6 mg/kg body weight respectively on days 1, 2, 3; 3, 4, 5 or 6, 7, 8 post coitum. The animals were slaughtered on day 9 or pregnancy. Corpora lutea and living and dead embryos were counted to estimate embryonic loss. Thereafter chromosome-analysis of bone marrow cells and embryonic tissue took place. Highter TEM dosage increased the rate of embryonic loss. It increased from 28.1% with a dose of 3 X 0.4 mg TEM to 75.7% with 3 X 0.6 mg TEM. The level of embryonic loss depends on the time of treatment during different stages of early gestation. It was highest on the first 3 days and lowest on days 6-8 of gestation (0.4 mg TEM on -ays 1, 2, 3 p.c., 71.8%; 0.4 mg TEM on days 6, 7, 8 p.c., 2.9%). By the chromosome analysis, early embryonic tissue seemed to be more sensitive to TEM than bone marrow cells. The highest rates of numerical (35.7%) and (3 X 0.4 mg TEM). A higher dose induced a negative dose-effect, the frequency of aberrations decreased (3 X 0.6 mg TEM, 29% NUMERICAL AND 1.2% STRUCTURal aberrations). With increased embryonic loss (from 28.1% to 75%) structural aberrations decreased (from 5.7% to 1.2%). The time of treatment p.c. was highly correlated with the frequency of aberrations. It was highest with TEM application on days 6, 7, 8 of pregnancy; at the same time the mortality rate was lowest. The same tendencies were noted in the investigation of the chromosomes from bone marrow cells.

In high active steroid producing cells of the human corpus luteum we can find in the cytoplasm a well developed smooth endoplasmic reticulum in form of smooth tubules and homogenously spread vesicles resulting from an active metabolic process. We also find specific concertinalike folded membrane complexes which too belong to the endoplasmic reticulum. Numerous mainly tubular mitochondria contain dense lipoid inclusions. Their close conection with the endoplasmic vesicles is expression of a direct interaction of both cell organelles in progesterone production. The transport of the intracellular formed steroid hormones to the capillary takes place via locally enlarged intercellular spaces which communicate with the pericapillary space. On the other hand there are pericellular canaliculi which are coated with a membrane. They have no direct connection to the pericapillar space.

The corpus luteum of the mid-luteal phase was examined concerning of the signs of functional and morphological regression after treatment with Prostin F2alpha and 15(S)-15-methyl-PGF2alpha. By 8 patients who were operated upon out of various uterine indications steroid hormone levels were determined during the treatment with prostaglandins and corpus luteum was judged by electron-microscopy. Morphological changes in the temporary decrease of the progesteron concentration could be found.

The granulosa lutein cells of the human corpus luteum have a specialized system of drainage with a particularly formed extracellular space, by which the steroids pass into the capillary vessels. The extracellular space consists of two partial systems: First one finds, similar to the bile capillaries of the liver, lacune-like widnings of the intercellular space, where numerous microvilli of the lining cells are to be found and which are lined by desmosomes and invaginations of the cell membrane. Second there exist relatively wide canals limited by a granular membrane forming a network of their own among the lutein cells. Both systems contact without direct communication. We believe that first the steroids pass into the intracellular lacunes by diffusion or active transport from where they reach the membrane-lined canals by help of the network they pass on to the pericapillar space from where they diffuse into the blood vessels.