Follicles collected from cows destined to enter relatively normal or short luteal phases if induced to ovulate were compared for numbers of receptors for luteinizing hormone (LH) in granulosal and thecal cells and for follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in granulosal cells. Eleven suckled beef cows received ear implants of 6 mg norgestomet for 9 days (expected normal luteal phase) and 11 served as controls (expected short luteal phase). At 48 h after implants were removed (average 34 days postpartum), the ovary containing the largest follicle was identified by transrectal ultrasound and removed. The largest follicle was dissected free of surrounding ovarian stroma and frozen in liquid nitrogen. Thecal and granulosal cells were isolated, and numbers of receptors for LH and FSH in granulosal cells and for LH in thecal cells were quantified. Concentrations of estradiol were measured in follicular fluid. Both granulosal and thecal cells from norgestomet-treated cows had greater numbers of receptors for LH than did those from control cows (p less than 0.01). Numbers of receptors for FSH in granulosal cells did not differ between treated and control cows. Follicles from norgestomet-treated cows were heavier (p less than 0.01) than follicles from control cows, mostly due to greater amounts of follicular fluid (p less than 0.01). Concentrations of estradiol were higher in follicular fluid from the treated cows (p less than 0.05). It is suggested that increases in numbers of follicular receptors for LH and secretion of estradiol are integral components of a sequence of events by which norgestomet prepares follicles to become fully functional corpora lutea.