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Regression of the corpus luteum (CL) is characterized by loss of the capacity to synthesize progesterone (P4) and tissue degradation by apoptosis (functional and structural luteolysis). Luteinizing hormone (LH) is one of the most potent stimulators in progesterone production by corpus luteum (CL) of most mammals, including cow. This research hypothesized that LH suppresses apoptosis of bovine luteal steroidogenic cells (LSC). We examined the effect of LH on cell death such as cell viability and DNA fragmentation factors which related with apoptosis. Cultured bovine LSC obtained from the CL at the mid stage (Days 8–12 of the cycle) were treated for 24 h with recombinant human tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF; 2.9 nM) and recombinant bovine interferon gamma (IFNG; 2.5 nM) in the presence or absence of LH (0.34 nM). LH reduced the levels of cell death in the LSC induced by TNF and IFNG (P<0.05). Furthermore, DNA fragmentation induced by TNF and IFNG was observed to be suppressed by LH. In conclusion, LH affects viability of luteal cells as an anti-apoptotic factor in bovine CL by increasing cell viability and suppressed DNA fragmentation. This suggests that LH plays luteoprotective roles in bovine CL by suppressing apoptosis of LSC.