Luteinizing hormone (LH) regulates production of androstenedione and progesterone via control of histone acetylation of StAR and CYP17 promoters in ovarian theca cells

► Low LH enhanced the productions of androstenedione (A4) and progesterone (P4), and expressions of CYP17 and StAR mRNA in theca cells. ► The binding of SF-1 to the CYP17 and StAR promoter regions increased in theca cells treated with low LH. ► Low LH enhanced the binding of GATA-6, but not of GATA-4, to the CYP17 promoter region. ► LH regulates the production of A4 and P4 by switching of transcription factors in theca cells.