Epidermal growth factor stimulates production of progesterone in cultured human choriocarcinoma cells.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulates the production of progesterone by JEG-3, a clonal strain of human choriocarcinoma cells. Stimulation occurs in a time and dose-dependent manner. In addition, EGF increases [14C]-acetate incorporation into [14C]-cholesterol in JEG-3 cells, and this may constitute its mechanism of action in enhancing progesterone synthesis.