LH stimulation of estrogen secretion by cultured rat granulosa cells

The direct effect of LH on estrogen secretion by rat granulosa cells was investigated. Ovarian granulosa cells from immature hypophysectomized diethylstilbestrol-treated rats were primed with FSH for 2 days in vitro to induce LH receptors. After the FSH priming, the granulosa cells were washed, and recultured for 4 additional days in media containing aromatase substrate (10(-7) M androstenedione) and purified FSH or LH. After the incubations, estrogen (E), progesterone (P) and 20 alpha-dihydroprogesterone (20 alpha-OH-P) in the media were measured by RIA. When granulosa cells from hypophysectomized DES-treated rats were cultured for 6 days with FSH and androstenedione, the production of E, P and 20 alpha-OH-P was stimulated to a maximum of 100-, 200- and 270-fold, respectively, above that of control levels. In contrast, LH did not increase steroidogenesis in these cells. Following 2 days of FSH priming in vitro, however, the cultured granulosa cells exhibited marked increases (400-600%) in E, P and 20 alpha-OH-P production in response to LH treatment over a 4-day incubation period. This stimulatory effect of LH on estrogen and progestin production was dose-related; the minimum and maximum effective doses of LH for steroid production were 3 and 30 ng/ml, respectively, and the ED50 was calculated to be 6 ng/ml of LH. As with LH, FSH also stimulated steroidogenesis in a dose-related manner and the apparent ED50 of FSH on steroidogenesis was 45 ng/ml. To investigate whether LH can also stimulate aromatase activity in granulosa cells primed with FSH in vivo, immature hypophysectomized DES-treated rats were injected for 2 days with FSH after which the granulosa cells were isolated and cultured for 4 days in medium containing 10(-7) M androstenedione and LH or FSH. Both LH and FSH stimulated E, P and 20 alpha-OH-P production, and the maximum steroidogenic responses of LH and FSH were similar to those observed in cultured granulosa cells primed with FSH in vitro. THese results have demonstrated that LH is effective in stimulating both estrogen and progestin secretion in rat granulosa cells pretreated with FSH. This suggests an important role of LH in the direct control of both aromatization and luteinization in the granulosa cell.     

FSH induction of aromatase in cultured rat granulosa cells measured by a radiometric assay

The effects of FSH on the aromatase activity of rat granulosa cells in culture were studied by measuring the stereospecific transfer of 3H from [1,2,6,7-3H]testosterone or [1 beta-3H]testosterone into 3H2O. The use of 3H2O release as a specific assay for aromatization in granulosa cells was validated by various means. 2 days after plating, cultures of granulosa cells released only minimal amounts of 3H2O from [1 beta-3H]testosterone during a 3-h incubation, whereas cells which had been treated with FSH, or with (Bu)2cAMP plus 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (MIX), from the time of plating released considerable amounts of 3H2O into the culture medium. The release of 3H2O from [1 beta-3H]testosterone by cultured cells was inhibited by the aromatizable androgens, 19-hydroxytestosterone and 19-hydroxyandrostenedione, indicating the specificity of the method for aromatization. In order to study the mechanism by which FSH enhanced the release of 3H2O, optimal conditions for aromatization by cell-free sonicates were determined. Optimal aromatase activity was achieved by incubating cell-free sonicates at 37 degrees C in the presence of O2 in 20 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) containing 5 mM dithiothreitol, 20 mM MgCl2, 0.5 mM NADP+, 20 mM glucose 6-phosphate and 2 U/ml glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. A concentration of 0.25 microM testosterone and 0.1 microCi tritium was used in the standard assay. Under these conditions the assay was linear for 1 h with up to 150 microgram protein from granulosa cells having maximal aromatase activity. When cells in culture were stimulated with purified FSH for 48 h from the time of plating, the aromatase activity in cell-free sonicates increased in a dose-dependent fashion. The ED50 for Sairam's FSH S-1528 C2 was 12 ng/ml. It was concluded from these studies that FSH increases estrogen levels primarily by inducing an active aromatase rather than by influencing secretion or availability of substrate or cofactor for the aromatization reaction.     

Effect of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin on the induction and degradation of FSH and LH receptors in the granulosa cell of the immature rat

The relative induction of FSH and LH receptors in the granulosa cells of immature rat ovary by pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) has been studied. A single injection of PMSG (15 IU) brought about a 3- and 12-fold increase in FSH and LH receptor concentration, respectively, in the granulosa cells. Maximal concentration was reached by 72 h but the receptor levels showed a sharp decline during the next 24-48 h. The kinetic properties of the newly formed FSH receptors were indistinguishable from the pre-existing ones. The induced FSH receptors were functional as demonstrated by an increase in the in vitro responsiveness of the cells to exogenous FSH in terms of progesterone production. Treatment of immature rats with cyanoketone, an inhibitor of delta 5,3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, prior to PMSG injection effectively reduced the PMSG-stimulated increase in the serum estradiol, uterine weight and LH receptors but had no effect on the FSH receptor induction. The ability of PMSG to induce gonadotropin receptors can be arrested at any given time by injecting its antibody, thereby suggesting a continuous need for the hormonal inducer. Estrogen in the absence of the primary inducer was unable to maintain the induced LH and FSH receptor concentration. Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis using indomethacin aslo had no effect on either the induction or degradation of gonadotropin receptors. Administration of PMSG antiserum, 48 h after PMSG injection, brought about a rapid decline in the induced receptors over the next 24 h, with a rate constant and t 1/2 of 0.078 h-1 and 8.9 h for FSH receptors and 0.086 h-1 and 8.0 h for the LH receptors, respectively.     

On the synergistic action of androgen and FSH on progestin secretion by cultured rat granulosa cells: Cellular and mitochondrial cholesterol metabolism

The effect of FSH and androgen on the conversion of cholesterol into progesterone by cultured rat granulosa cells (GC) was studied in intact cells or mitochondrial preparations. Culture of GC from immature hypophysectomized diethylstilbestrol-treated rats for 48 h in the presence of ovine FSH (5 μg/ml) alone, or FSH + testosterone (Te; 0.5 Mg/ml) caused a slight increase in the activity of the mitochondrial marker enzyme succinic dehydrogenase, while Te had no effect. Culture with the hormones for 48 h had no significant effect on the levels of free and esterified cellular cholesterol. GC monolayers after 48 h with or without FSH and Te converted [³H]cholesterol into 4 major metabolites, 3 of which were secreted into the medium and, in thin-layer Chromatographie behavior, resembled pregnenolone, progesterone and 20α-dihydroprogesterone. The total amount of the 3 C-21 steroids was higher (p < 0.01) in FSH- or Te-treated than in control cells, and combined treatment had a synergistic effect. The uptake of labeled cholesterol (4–10%) was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in cells pretreated with FSH or Te, whereas a combined FSH and Te treatment had an additive effect.Mitochondria isolated from GC monolayers took up cholesterol in a temperature-dependent fashion, but this uptake was not affected by hormonal pretreatment. In the presence of cyanoketone, the mitochondrial fractions actively converted cholesterol into pregnenolone. This activity was enhanced by FSH or Te (p < 0.01), and further enhancement was observed with FSH + Te; the combined effect appeared to be more than additive (p = 0.05).The results suggest that both FSH and Te enhance the activity of cholesterol side-chain cleavage, but do not affect the transport of cholesterol into the mitochondria. A possible hormonal effect on a pre-mitochondrial step is discussed.     

In vitro heteroregulation of LH receptors by prolactin and FSH in rat granulosa cells

The purpose of the present study was to further characterize the regulation of LH/hCG receptors by FSH in granulosa cells and test the hypothesis that the LH/hCG receptor levels are heteroregulated by PRL. Granulosa cells from immature hypophysectomized, DES-treated rats were cultured for 2-4 days in defined medium containing androstenedione (10(-7) M) and/or FSH and PRL, after which [125I]iodo-hCG binding to the granulosa cells was measured. When granulosa cells were cultured for 2 days (days 0-2) with increasing concentrations of FSH (0.1-100 ng/ml), there was a dose related increase in [125I]iode-hCG binding from a control value of 1.05 +/- 0.2 fmoles/10(6) cells to a maximum of 20 +/- 1.8 fmoles/10(6) cells. The miminum, half-maximum (ED50) and maximum doses of FSH were 0.3, 0.5 and 3 ng/ml, respectively. At concentrations of FSH greater than 3 ng/ml there was a progressive decrease in [125I]-iodo-hCG binding to a low value of 6.1 +/- 1 fmoles/10(6) cells at 100 ng/ml of FSH. No changes in [125I]iodo-hCG binding were observed in response to PRL (1 microgram/ml) during the day 0-2 incubation. When granulosa cells were stimulated for 2 days with 20 ng/ml of FSH, washed, and then recultured for another 2 days (days 2-4) with FSH, the LH/hCG receptor content remained high (F leads to F = 17.4 +/- 2.8 fmoles/10(6) cells). In contrast, when FSH-primed cells were recultured for 2 days without FSH, the [125I]iodo-hCG binding decreased sharply to near control levels (F leads to C = 2.5 +/- 0.2 fmoles/10(6) cells). This marked loss of LH/hCG receptors was largely prevented when FSH primed cells were recultured with PRL (F leads to P = 10.3 +/- 1.5 fmoles/10(6) cells). This stimulatory effect of PRL on [125I]iodo-hCG binding was dose-dependent: minimum, ED50, and maximum doses of PRL were 0.2, 0.5 and 1 microgram/ml, respectively. Scatchard-plot analysis revealed that although the dissociation constant (Kd) of the LH/hCG receptors stimulated by FSH and PRL were of similar high affinity (approximately 8 x 10(-11) M), the maximum binding (Bmax) values in the PRL-treated cells were less. Addition of 10(-7) estradiol together with the PRL did not cause a further increase in Bmax values above that observed with PRL alone.     

Steroid and plasminogen activator production by cultured rat granulosa cells in response to hormone treatment

Granulosa cells isolated from immature, DES-primed female rats were incubated in medium-199 plus 10% chicken serum with addition of FSH, or testosterone, or both. Cultures were incubated at 37°C for 7 days; medium samples were taken daily and analyzed for steroids and plasminogen-activator production. Only cultures containing FSH + testosterone produced significant amounts of both estradiol and progesterone after 2 days of incubation. The rate of estradiol production increased steadily up to the 4th day and then leveled off; the production of progesterone reached a maximum around the 3rd day, and then declined rapidly afterward. FSH alone was able to stimulate plasminogen activator production at the first day. Cultures with FSH + testosterone produced an additional peak of plasminogen activator activity at the 4th day. Plasminogen-activator production is thus not correlated with steroidogenesis in a simple way. We conclude that the granulosa cells require the presence of both FSH and testosterone at the beginning of incubation for normal response. Delayed addition of either hormone, or both, to the culture causes damage to the cells ability to produce normal responses to hormone treatment.     

Regulation of aromatase activity of rat granulosa cells: induction of synthesis of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase by FSH and dibutyryl cyclic AMP

Aromatase is an enzyme complex that is composed of a specific form of cytochrome P-450 and a flavoprotein, NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase. Aromatase activity of granulosa cells is increased markedly by follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and by analogs of cyclic AMP. It was the objective of the present study to investigate the effects of FSH and dibutyryl cyclic AMP (Bt₂cAMP) on the synthesis of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase in rat granulosa cells maintained in vitro. Granulosa cells were obtained from the ovaries of diethylstilbestrol (DES)-treated immature rats and were incubated in the presence of DES (10⁻⁷ M), DES + FSH (250 ng/ml), or DES + Bt₂cAMP (1 mM) for up to 72 h. After 72 h of incubation, aromatase activity of cells incubated with DES alone was 5 pmoles estrogen formed 2 h⁻¹ mg⁻¹ protein and was increased > 60-fold in cells incubated with FSH or Bt₂cAMP. NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase was immunoisolated from [³⁵S]methionine-labeled lysates of granulosa cells incubated for 72 h in the absence or presence of stimulatory factors. The rate of synthesis of reductase was found to be increased about 3-fold in cells incubated with DES + FSH or DES + Bt₂cAMP as compared to cells incubated with DES alone. By immunoblot analysis we found that the cellular content of reductase was increased about 2-fold by FSH and Bt₂cAMP treatment. Reductase specific activity was 10 nmoles min⁻¹ mg⁻¹ protein in membrane fractions of DES-treated cells and was increased 1.6-fold by FSH treatment. These findings are indicative that FSH increases the rate of synthesis, cellular content and specific activity of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase in rat granulosa cells in vitro. The finding that Bt₂cAMP causes a similar induction of reductase synthesis is suggestive that the stimulatory effect of FSH on this component of the aromatase enzyme complex is mediated by an increase in cyclic AMP formation.     

Studies on the mechanism of LH receptor control by FSH

The mechanism of the control of LH/hCG receptor by FSH was investigated using granulosa cells from the immature hypophysectomized estrogen primed rat as a model. The specific binding of [¹²⁵I]hCG to freshly collected granulosa cells was low (0.18 ± 0.01 fmoles/10⁶ cells). By contrast, a marked increase in [¹²⁵I]hCG binding was observed when granulosa cells were cultured in serum free medium with FSH (10 ng/ml); time course studies revealed that the binding capacity was low at day 1 (1.3 ± 0.4 fmoles/10⁶ cells), increased sharply at day 2 (11.7 ± 1.7 fmoles/10⁶ cells), then reached a maximum at day 3 (19.2 ± 1.3 fmoles/10⁶ cells). Comparable results were obtained when cells were primed with FSH in vivo, thus indicating that the defined culture system is both efficient and physiologic for LH/hCG receptor induction. Cholera toxin (CT), PGE₂, and cyclic nucleotide analogues mimicked in part the FSH effect; Scatchard analysis showed that the ¹²⁵I-high binding sites induced by all agents were of high affinity (K_d = ~1 × 10^?11), but the number of binding sites induced by CT, PGE₂, and the cyclic nucleotides was 70, 45 and 25%, respectively, of that induced by FSH. The effect of the agents on the in vitro induction of hCG binding sites was dose dependent; the ED₅₀s of CT, FSH and PGE₂ for receptor induction were 40 pg/ml, 4 ng/ml, and 30 ng/ml, respectively. The maximum induction of hCG-binding sites by FSH, CT and PGE₂ closely paralleled their maximum stimulatory effects on cyclic AMP formation. Autoradiography revealed that the increase in [¹²⁵I]hCG-binding sites was a heterogenous process: in the FSH, CT and PGE₂ treated cultures, only 47 ± 4, 38 ± 4 and 28 ± 2%, respectively, of the viable cells were labeled. By contrast, all compounds induced 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in 70–80% of the viable cells.These results demonstrate a role of cyclic AMP in the mechanism of LH/hCG receptor regulation by FSH but reveal that the mechanism is complex and suggest that some non-cyclic AMP actions are also involved.     

Effect of pimozide and sulpiride on the release of LH and FSH by pituitary cells in culture

A culture of dispersed rat anterior pituitary cells was used to test the ability of pimozide and sulpiride to affect the basal gonadotropin release and their effects on the response to GnRH. Sulpiride did not alter either the basal or the Gn-RH-induced release of LH, and the lowest dose (500 ng/ml) seemed to potentiate the Gn-RH-induced FSH release. On the other hand, both doses of pimozide (100 ng/ml and 10 μg/ml) significantly inhibited the release of FSH and LH induced by Gn-RH but did not affect the basal release of the two gonadotropins. From these results it is evident that pimozide, at the doses used, is a powerful inhibitor of the pituitary response to Gn-RH in vitro. Sulpiride on the other hand had no effect on the pituitary response to Gn-RH in vitro, except on FSH release, using the lower dose.     

Effects of raloxifene, one of the selective estrogen receptor modulators, on pituitary-ovary axis and prolactin in postmenopausal women

To investigate the clinical effects of raloxifene, one of the selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), on the pituitary-ovary axis and prolactin, a prospective, randomized, double-blinded study on 59 healthy postmenopausal women was performed. Forty-eight women received raloxifene 60 mg daily. The other 11 received combined conjugated equine estrogen 0.625 mg and medroxyprogesterone acetate 5 mg daily (CCEP) as active controls. Serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), and prolactin were measured at baseline and 1 yr after treatment. The mean levels of FSH and LH were significantly decreased in the raloxifene group (FSH: −10.7%; p<0.01, LH: −10.3%; p<0.05) and CCEP group (FSH: −53.7%, p<0.001; LH: −46.8%, p<0.001). The prolactin level decreased in the raloxifene group but not in the CCEP group (−17.0%; p<0.001 vs + 13.3%, p=no significance; NS). Consequently, long-term administration of raloxifene up to 1 yr decreases serum prolactin level significantly and may be a therapeutic alternative for postmenopausal osteoporotic women with hyperprolactinemia.     

Modulation of FSH receptor phosphorylation correlates with hormone-induced coupling to the adenylate cyclase system

The authors have recently demonstrated that an inhibitor of protein phosphorylation, staurosporine (SSP), can dramatically enhance follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) stimulated cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) accumulation in rat granulosa cell line (GFSHR-17) overexpressing about 20-fold FSH receptor than primary granulosa cells. Moreover, incubation with SSP can partially release the cells from FSH-induced desensitization. In this work, it was examined whether coupling of FSH receptor to the adenylate cyclase is correlated with the degree of receptor phosphorylation. Immunoprecipitation of FSH receptor after metabolic labeling of the cells with³²P-orthophosphate revealed that preincubation of the cells with SSP resulted in pronounced reduction in FSH receptor phosphorylation compared to control cells, concomitantly with a dramatic increase in FSH-stimulated cAMP accumulation. In contrast, incubation of the cells with saturating dose of FSH, which leads to uncoupling between the receptor and the adenylate cyclase, resulted in enhanced receptor phosphorylation. Moreover, cells preincubated with FSH could be released from desensitization by further incubation with SSP and a significant reduction in FSH receptor phosphorylation. Immunostaining of the cells with FSH receptor antibody reveal a homogeneous distribution of the receptor on the surface of SSP-treated cells. Some aggregation of the receptor was evident in control cells that were not treated with SSP. In contrast, massive clustering and capping of the receptor molecules were observed on the surface of FSH-stimulated cells. The current data suggest that phosphorylation-dephosphorylation of the receptor molecules play an important role in the degree of coupling between the receptor and the adenylate cyclase system. Moreover, desensitization to FSH stimulation that is implicated with high degree of receptor phosphorylation may lead to aggregation of the receptor molecules on the cell surface.     

Serotonin may alter the pattern of gonadotropin-induced progesterone release of human granulosa cells in superfusion system

Serotonin plays a hormonal function in several nonneuronal peripheral tissues, such as the ovaries. Our aim was to investigate whether there is a modulatory action of serotonin on gonadotropin-induced steroid secretion of human granulosa cells. In granulosa cell culture, serotonin was administered alone or in combination with luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Also, granulosa cells were transferred into a dynamic superfusion apparatus and challenged by FSH and LH alone or along with serotonin. Estradiol and progesterone concentrations of samples were measured by radioimmunoassay. As expected, administration of FSH, LH, and serotonin alone resulted in a significant estradiol and progesterone release in cell culture, as well as a significant increase in progesterone release in dynamic superfusion system. In cell culture, co-administration of serotonin with gonadotropins had no additive effect on gonadotropin-induced secretion of progesterone, while it further augmented that of estradiol. In superfusion system, when gonadotropins were added along with serotonin, the increase in progesterone release was markedly less, while peaks of hormone response were remarkably prolonged compared to challenges by LH and FSH alone. The observed effects of serotonin on gonadotropin-induced steroid release of granulosa cells may reveal further details about the regulation of granulosa cell function.     

LH- and FSH-stimulating of adenylate cyclase in seminiferous tubules from young rats: functional FSH and LH receptors unmasked by homogenization.

LH- and FSH-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity was present in homogenates of whole testis tissue as well as in microdissected seminiferous tubules derived from young rats. In homogenates of seminiferous tubules a single adenylate cyclase appears to interact with both LH and FSH through separate hormone-specific receptors. Disruption of testis tissue by homogenization exposes functional FSH and LH receptors which are inaccessible to the hormones in intact cell preparations. These results indicate that in certain seminiferous tubule cell types only a fraction of the total functional receptors present is accessible to the cell surface for interaction with hormone.     

健康婴儿LH、FSH、雌二醇与睾酮的血清浓度

目的研究正常婴儿血LH、FSH、雌二醇(E2)与睾酮(T)的血清浓度变化。方法用免疫化学发光分析法对358名正常婴儿(男婴183,女婴175)的LH、FSH、E2和T水平进行测定,同时对3个月内婴儿的其他可能相关指标(出生体重、孕期、胎次、母亲年龄及分娩方式)进行了研究。结果(1)婴儿期4种激素水平变化男婴LH、FSH在2~3月龄时达高峰(LH3.5IU/L,FSH3.4IU/L),6月龄后趋平坦(LH1.5IU/L,FSH<1.5IU/L),T在2~4月龄时达高峰(9.15mmol/L)后快速下降,6月龄后稳定在一个较低的水平(<1.34nmol/L);女婴FSH在2~3月龄达高峰(7.1IU/L),LH与T在整个婴儿期的水平几乎是条直线(LH<4.7IU/L,T<2.49nmol/L)。男女婴的E2水平在生后快速下降,3月龄后达最低值。(2)性别差异LH和T在6月龄前男婴明显高于女婴,6月龄后无性别差异。FSH水平各月龄组女婴均高于男婴,E2除2月龄前女婴高于男婴外,3~12月龄时无性别差异。(3)3月龄内婴儿促性腺激素、性激素水平与出生体重、孕期、胎次、母亲年龄及分娩方式未显示相关关系。结论婴儿在2~4月龄时的血促性腺激素与性激素水平有个暂时的高峰期,并有明显性别差异,可能与两性性腺发育的不同调控机制有关。     

Effect of chronic thyroid hormone treatment on cycling, ovulation, serum reproductive hormones and ovarian LH and prolactin receptors in rats

We studied the effect on cycling, ovulation and hormone secretion of a chronic thyroxine treatment (HT, 1 mg/kg,S.C., daily, initiated at oestrus) on female rats. HT rats showed normal 4-day vaginal cycles on the first three cycles after initiation of the treatment, but on the fourth cycle had a prolonged oestrus and subsequently entered in constant di-oestrus. In spite of the normal vaginal cycles only 66%, 50%, 33% and 10% of the HT rats ovulated on cycles 1 to 4 respectively. In contrast, during cycles 2 and 3, ovulating HT rats shed a significantly greater number of ova than controls. Hormones were measured at 12.00 and 18.00 h (pre-ovulatory) on prooestrus and at 11.00 h on oestrus. HT ovulating rats had normal LH levels on the first two cycles, but low levels on the third one, while non-ovulating HT rats had low preovulatory LH levels. Serum FSH concentrations were elevated in all the HT rats on cycles 1 and 2 and on pro-oestrus morning in cycle 3 and may have been responsible for the increase in ovulation rate. On oestrus, ovulating HT rats had higher FSH values than nonovulating ones. Serum prolactin levels were similar to controls in all the HT rats on cycle 1, but on the subsequent cycles pre-ovulatory levels were lower than controls in all the HT rats, while values were increased in the non-ovulating HT rats on the third and fourth oestrus mornings. Pro-oestrous serum oestradiol concentrations in all the HT rats were not different from controls on cycles 1 and 2 and diminished on 3 and 4. Oestrous levels were significantly lower on the cycle 1 and only on the nonovulating HT rats on cycle 2. Serum progesterone levels had values similar to those of FSH, with increased values in the first two cycles. Serum corticosterone levels were increased in the mornings of cycles 2 and 3, but values were normal on the fourth one. Ovarian prolactin and LH receptor mRNAs, measured on HT rats on the third prooestrus by Northern blotting, showed significant increases in all the majoritary molecular forms (2.5 and 7 kb for LH receptor and 0.9, 2.9–3, 5 and 10 kb for the prolactin receptor) with respect to control pro-oestrous rats. These results show a progressive disruption of cycling, ovulation and hormonal secretion after the initiation of a chronic thyroid hormone treatment in rats, which eventually lead to an anovulatory state. These results may be of importance for the interpretation of the reproductive disfunctions provoked by hyperthyroidism in women.     

Induction of prolactin receptors by prolactin in the rat lung and liver: demonstration of separate receptor and antibody entities

This study examined the role of prolactin (PRL) in inducing its own receptors in rat lung and liver beyond the parallel immunological response evoked. Ovine PRL (oPRL), mixed with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and injected s.c. daily to male rats for 7, 10 and 14 days, was shown to induce specific binding of [125I]iodo-oPRL in the lung and liver crude membrane fractions. Doses as low as 12.5 ng/kg were effective in inducing PRL-binding sites, which, however, differed qualitatively from those found in livers of 17 beta-estrogen-treated male rats. The oPRL-induced sites were highly specific for oPRL and were relatively stable to heat, suggesting the possible participation of antihormone antibodies in the binding observed. Indeed, anti-oPRL antibodies found in sera of oPRL-treated rats increasingly bound oPRL as a function of the duration of treatment. Water-washing of the membrane fraction succeeded in gradually eliminating the loosely bound antibody and in partially restoring the displacing ability of excess (1 micrograms) rat PRL on oPRL-binding sites in the lung (32.3%) and liver membranes (29.3%). Also restored were the heat lability typical of the receptor site, as well as the inhibitory effect of anti-PRL-receptor antiserum (1:100) on PRL binding (50-65% inhibition of total binding). In keeping with these results, in vitro incubation of liver membranes with rat anti-oPRL antiserum greatly reduced the ability of rat PRL to compete for oPRL binding, supporting the findings after in vivo treatment with oPRL.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of prolactin on the steroidogenic response of rat luteal cells

The role of prolactin on some ovarian functions was studied in collagenase-dispersed luteal cells obtained from PMSG/hCG-primed rats. The in vitro effect of ovine prolactin (oPrl) on luteal cell function was assayed. This hormone produced a dose-dependent increase of progesterone production and an additive effect on hCG stimulation. oPrl had no effect on cAMP production. Chronic effects of prolactin were studied in sulpiride (S), bromocriptine (Br) and oPrl-treated rats. Serum levels of prolactin were significantly higher in S-treated animals whereas Br administration rendered undetectable values. Serum progesterone was reduced in Br-treated animals and LH levels were similar in all groups studied. In vitro studies demonstrated a marked reduction of hCG stimulation of progesterone and cAMP production by luteal cells from hypoprolactinemic animals, while a significant increase was observed in hyperprolactinemic states. oPrl and S treatment significantly increased ovarian LH binding sites while a reduction was observed in Br-treated rats. These data suggest that luteal cell function is regulated by circulating levels of prolactin and that this hormone has some direct effect on the steroidogenic process.     

Reduction in FSH receptors in the rat testis by injection of homologous hormone

Intratesticular injection of 25 μg rat FSH into rats under continuous methane anaesthesia resulted 24 h later in a 50% reduction in binding sites for FSH in testicular homogenates. By 48 h after injection, receptor number usually returned to control values. Intratesticular injection of ¹²⁵I-labelled rat FSH showed <1% remaining in the testis 24 h later, suggesting that the reduction in receptor numbers at 24 h is not due to occupancy by the FSH. Experiments did not suggest that the injection of FSH induced FSH-degrading enzymes or inhibitors of binding.     

Distinct mechanisms of cAMP induction by constitutively activating LH receptor and wild-type LH receptor activated by hCG

Asp⁵⁷⁸Gly is the major mutation of luteinizing hormone (LH) receptors in humans. It is a dominant mutant, constitutively activates Gαs, and induces cAMP production in the absence of the cognate hormone, causing the familial male precocious puberty. The mechanism of the elevated basal cAMP level is unclear. Our data show strikingly different mechanisms between the elevated basal cAMP induced by the activating mutant and the cAMP induced by the wild-type receptor activated by human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) binding. The study suggests an approach to attenuating the elevated basal cAMP of the activating mutant LH receptor, which could be useful for controlling the familial male precocious puberty. For the study, we used the C-terminal peptides of Gαs and Gαi2, which couple to the receptor.     

Down-regulation of testicular androgen biosynthesis and LH receptor levels by an LHRH agonist: role of prolactin.

Inhibition of plasma prolactin levels by 2-bromo-alpha-ergocryptine (CB-154) caused a 60% decrease and potentiated the inhibitory effects of [D-Ala6,des-Gly-NH2(10)]LHRH ethylamide on testicular LH receptor levels. Animals treated with the LHRH agonist showed reduced plasma and testicular testosterone levels and elevated progesterone concentration. This progesterone rise was further increased in animals having high circulating prolactin levels but was prevented by CB-154. These data demonstrate that: (1) treatment with the LHRH agonist induces a blockage in the steroidogenic pathway at a step between progesterone and testosterone and (2) prolactin levels to an apparent accentuation of this blockage reflected by higher progesterone levels.