Cloning, sequencing, and expression of human gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor

Gonadotropin releasing hormone is a hypothalamic decapeptide that stimulates the release of gonadotropic hormones from the anterior pituitary gland. Therapeutically, the human pituitary GnRH receptor is the target of agonists used in the suppression of prostate cancer. Here we report the isolation of a cDNA representing this receptor. It encodes a protein with a transmembrane topology similar with that of other G protein-coupled, 7-transmembrane receptors. Binding studies of the cloned receptor demonstrate high affinity and pharmacological properties similar with the native human pituitary GnRH receptor. Northern blot and reverse transcriptase/PCR analysis revealed that its mRNA is expressed in pituitary, ovary, testis, breast, and prostate but not in liver and spleen. Availability of a human GnRH receptor cDNA should permit the design of improved analogs for therapeutic applications.

Nucleotide sequence of the capsid protein gene of two serotypes of San Miguel sea lion virus: identification of conserved and non-conserved amino acid sequences among calicivirus capsid proteins

The San Miguel sea lion viruses, members of the calicivirus family, are closely related to the vesicular disease of swine viruses which can cause severe disease in swine. In order to begin the molecular characterization of these viruses, the nucleotide sequence of the capsid protein gene of two San Miguel sea lion viruses (SMSV), serotypes 1 and 4, was determined. The coding sequences for the capsid precursor protein were located within the 3' terminal 2620 bases of the genomic RNAs of both viruses. The encoded capsid precursor proteins were 79,500 and 77,634 Da for SMSV 1 and SMSV 4, respectively. The SMSV 1 protein was 47.7% and SMSV 4 was 48.6% homologous to the feline calicivirus (FCV) capsid precursor protein while the two SMSV capsid precursors were 73% homologous to each other. Six distinct regions within the capsid precursors (denoted as regions A-F) were identified based on amino acid sequence alignment analysis of the two SMSV serotypes with FCV and the rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) capsid protein. Three regions showed similarity among all four viruses (regions B, D and F) and one region showed a very high degree of homology between the SMSV serotypes but only limited similarity with FCV (region A). RHDV contained only a truncated region A. A fifth region, consisting of approximately 100 residues, was not conserved among any of the viruses (region E) and, in SMSV, may contain the serotype-specific determinants. Another small region (region C) contained between 15 and 27 amino acids and showed little sequence conservation. Region B showed the highest degree of conservation among the four viruses and contained the residues which had homology to the picornavirus VP3 structural protein. An open reading frame, found in the 3' terminal 514 bases of the SMSV genomes, encoded small proteins (12,575 and 12,522 Da, respectively for SMSV 1 and SMSV 4) of which 32% of the conserved amino acids were basic residues, implying a possible nucleic acid-binding function.

Differential expression of angiotensin II receptor subtype mRNAs (AT-1A and AT-1B) in the brain

Two highly similar rat angiotensin II, type 1 receptor cDNAs (AT1) have been described that probably are encoded by separate genes. AT1A subtype mRNA was expressed in vascular smooth muscle whereas AT1B mRNA was expressed in adrenal and pituitary. Here we measured the two AT1 subtype mRNAs in brain using reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reactions. AT1B mRNA was predominant in subfornical organ (SFO) and organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis (OVLT), the two regions that mediate angiotensin II-induced drinking behavior, and also in cerebellum. AT1A mRNA was predominant in the hypothalamus. Thus, the two AT1 receptor subtypes established to reside in peripheral tissues also are found in the central nervous system where the AT1B subtype may mediate drinking behavior.

Angiotensin II type-1 receptor subtype cDNAs: differential tissue expression and hormonal regulation

A rat angiotensin, type 1A (AT1A) receptor cDNA was cloned recently and shown to be a member of the 7-transmembrane, G-protein coupled family of receptors. Here, we report the cloning, sequencing, and expression of a previously unsuspected second form of the type 1 receptor (AT1B) in the rat which exhibits high similarity with the AT1A receptor relative to amino acid sequence (95% identity), binding of angiotensin II analogs, and utilization of Ca+2 as its intracellular second messenger. The adrenal and pituitary gland express primarily AT1B mRNA whereas vascular smooth muscle and lung express primarily AT1A mRNA. Estrogen treatment suppressed AT1B but not AT1A mRNA levels in the pituitary gland. Thus, the unexpected existence of two putative AT1 receptor genes appears to be related to the differential regulation of their expression rather than to different functional properties of the encoded receptor proteins.

Nucleotide sequence and expression of the capsid protein gene of feline calicivirus

The sequence of the 3'-terminal 2,486 bases of the feline calicivirus (FCV) genome was determined. This region of the FCV genome, from which the 2.4-kb subgenomic RNA is derived, contained two open reading frames. The larger open reading frame, found in the 5' end of the subgenomic mRNA, contained 2,004 bases encoding a polypeptide of 73,467 Da. The smaller open reading frame, encoded in the 3' end of the mRNA, was composed of 318 bases, encoding a polypeptide of 12,185 Da. The AUG initiation codon of the second open reading frame overlapped the UGA termination codon of the first, with the sequence AUGA. The nucleotide sequence of the region containing this overlap resembles the -1 frameshift sequences of the retroviruses. The 5' end of the 2.4-kb subgenomic RNA was mapped by primer extension analysis. There were two apparent transcription initiation points, both of which were 5' to the AUG initiation codon of the large open reading frame. Transcription from these sites yielded RNA transcripts with 5' nontranslated leader regions of 17 and 18 bases. The total length of the 2.4-kb subgenomic RNA was 2,375 bases (from the 5'-most start site) excluding the poly(A) tail. Edman degradation of the purified capsid protein of FCV showed that the capsid protein was encoded by the large open reading frame. Western immunoblot analysis of FCV-infected cells using a feline anti-FCV antiserum demonstrated that translation of the capsid protein was detectable at 3 h postinfection and continued to accumulate until 8 h postinfection, the last time examined.

Localization of receptors for luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone in pancreatic and mammary cancer cells

Previous work showed that hamster and human pancreatic tumors but not normal pancreata exhibit low-affinity cell-membrane receptors for luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH). Although the regression of experimental pancreatic cancers induced by treatment with LHRH agonists or antagonists could be explained in part by the creation of sex-steroid deficiency, direct effects mediated by LHRH receptors might also play a role. Here, we demonstrate that pancreatic tumor cells do exhibit high-affinity binding sites for LHRH, but only in their nuclei; low-affinity sites are associated with the cell membranes. These binding sites appear to be LHRH receptors since electron microscopic immunohistochemical studies show that an antibody to the LHRH receptor reacted with sites in the nucleus of pancreatic tumor cells. Immunoreactive sites in the nucleus also were found in a restricted set of normal hamster pituitary cells thought to be luteinizing hormone-secreting cells and in MXT mouse mammary tumor cells. Such nuclear receptors may be involved in the transmission of the direct action of LHRH analogues on the tumor cells, resulting in the enhancement of programmed cell death.

Nucleotide sequence of a region of the feline calicivirus genome which encodes picornavirus-like RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, cysteine protease and 2C polypeptides

A region of the feline calicivirus (FCV) genome was sequenced which encodes polypeptides that are similar by amino acid alignment analysis to several picornavirus polypeptides. These polypeptides include the 2C polypeptide, the 3C cysteine protease and the 3D RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. The 2C-like region of the FCV genome encodes a GxxGxGKT nucleotide binding motif as well as amino acids which have been shown to be conserved in the picornavirus 2C polypeptides. The FCV RNA-dependent RNA polymerase also shows regions of similarity with picornavirus RNA polymerase sequences including the GDD sequence which is thought to be in or near the active site of the polymerase. The FCV cysteine protease-like sequences have the lowest degree of similarity with picornavirus cysteine proteases of the three regions aligned. However, the cysteine and histidine residues thought to be in the active site of the protease are present and are surrounded by amino acids conserved in the picornavirus cysteine proteases. The order of the polypeptides encoded in the FCV genome is the same as in the picornaviruses with the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase being located at the C-terminus of the FCV polyprotein. However, there is an approximately 40,000 dalton region between the FCV 2C- and the cysteine protease-like polypeptides which has no similarity to any known picornavirus protein. A striking difference between the organization of these sequences in FCV and the picornaviruses is that in the FCV genome, these non-structural polypeptides are encoded near the 5' end of the genomic RNA. Termination of the reading frame encoding these polypeptides occurs approximately 2400 bases from the 3' end of the genomic RNA as compared to 71 bases in the poliovirus genomic RNA.

Lack of the suckling-induced prolactin release in homozygous Brattleboro rats: the vasopressin-neurophysin-glycopeptide precursor may play a role in prolactin release

Suckling stimulus did not induce significant release of prolactin (PRL) in lactating homozygous Brattleboro rats, whereas it did it in heterozygous animals. Daily treatment of homozygous rats with vasopressin partly restored the PRL response to suckling. Findings suggest that vasopressin-neurophysin-glycopeptide precursor missing in homozygous Brattleboro rats may play a role in suckling-induced PRL release.

Isolation and characterization of interleukin-1 from bovine polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Interleukin-1 (IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta collectively) has been shown to be produced by a wide variety of cell types. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of bovine polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) to synthesize and release IL-1-like cytokines and characterize the active molecule(s). Purified peripheral blood PMNs were cultured for various periods of time in the presence of opsonized zymosan particles. The resulting culture supernatants exhibited IL-1 activity as determined by enhanced mitogen-induced proliferation of the D10 G4.1 murine T-helper cell line. Supernatants from nonstimulated PMNs or PMNs stimulated for less than 6 h did not enhance D10 G4.1 proliferation. The active molecule (PMNIL-1) was isolated by using gel filtration high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Further characterization of the HPLC-purified molecule by SDS-PAGE and isoelectric focusing indicates bovine PMNIL-1 has a molecular weight of 17.8 kd and a pI of 4.1.

Further characterization of the virus-specific RNAs in feline calicivirus infected cells

The virus-specific RNAs in feline calicivirus (FCV) infected cells were examined to determine the number and forms of RNAs that are synthesized during the infection process. Northern blots of poly(A)+ RNA from 5-h infected cells probed with a cDNA clone derived from the 3' end of the FCV genome (pCV3) revealed four FCV-specific RNAs that were approximately 8.2 (genomic RNA), 4.8, 4.2 and 2.4 kb in length. Northern blots of poly(A)+ RNA purified from infected cells hourly after infection and probed with pCV3 demonstrated that transcription of all FCV-specific RNAs are detectable at 2 to 3 h post-infection (PI) and that these RNAs reached steady state levels at approximately 4 h PI. The levels of the FCV RNAs then remained relatively constant through 7 h PI, the last time tested, with the exception of the 4.8 and 4.2 kb transcripts which showed a marked increase between 6 and 7 hours PI. Northern blots of dsRNA which had been LiCl-fractionated from pooled total cellular RNA isolated from 5-h and 7-h FCV infected cells, showed two double-stranded RNAs corresponding to the 8.2 kb genomic RNA and the 2.4 kb subgenomic RNA. Preliminary mapping by Northern blotting using cDNA probes derived from varying locations within the FCV genome was done to determine the approximate regions from which the subgenomic RNAs are derived. This analysis indicates that the viral RNAs are nested, co-terminal transcripts with common 3' ends.

The glycopeptide moiety of vasopressin-neurophysin precursor is neurohypophysial prolactin releasing factor

All of the classically-described hypothalamic, hypophysiotropic factors that regulate anterior pituitary hormone secretion have now been isolated and identified except for prolactin releasing factor. We report here that the 39-amino acid glycopeptide comprising the carboxyterminus of the neurohypophysial vasopressin-neurophysin precursor stimulates prolactin release from cultured pituitary cells as potently as does thyrotropin releasing hormone but has no effect on the secretion of other pituitary hormones. Furthermore, antisera to the glycopeptide administered to lactating rats attenuated suckling-induced prolactin secretion. Thus, this glycopeptide appears to be the neurohypophysial prolactin releasing factor.

Autocrine control of prolactin secretion by vasoactive intestinal peptide

The functions of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and the many other neuropeptides that are localized in the anterior pituitary gland remain unknown although VIP of hypothalamic origin is established to act as a PRL-releasing factor. Evidence is presented here that locally-produced VIP acts in an autocrine fashion to stimulate PRL release. VIP antibodies or a VIP antagonist profoundly but reversibly suppressed PRL secretion in primary cultures of rat pituitary cells or the GH3 cell line. This evidence was obtained with the use of a reverse hemolytic plaque assay for microscopic demonstration of PRL release from individual cells under conditions precluding cell-cell interaction. We suggest that most of the high rate of "spontaneous" PRL secretion attributed to lactotropes deprived of hypothalamic influence is due in fact to the stimulatory effects of VIP acting in an autocrine fashion.

Simultaneous measurement of hormone release and secretagogue binding by individual pituitary cells

The quantitative relationship between receptor binding and hormone secretion at the single-cell level was investigated in the present study by combining a reverse hemolytic plaque assay for measurement of luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion from individual pituitary cells with an autoradiographic assay of 125I-labeled gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist binding to the same cells. In the plaque assay, LH secretion induces complement-mediated lysis of the LH-antibody-coated erythrocytes around the gonadotropes, resulting in areas of lysis (plaques). LH release from individual gonadotropes was quantified by comparing radioimmunoassayable LH release to hemolytic area in similarly treated cohort groups of cells; plaque area was linearly related to the amount of LH secreted. Receptor autoradiography was performed using 125I-labeled GnRH-A (a superagonist analog of GnRH) both as the ligand and as the stimulant for LH release in the plaque assay; the developed silver grains appearing over cells in the center of plaques were measured microscopically. The grains appeared to represent specific and high-affinity receptors for GnRH because no pituitary cells other than gonadotropes bound the labeled ligand and grain development was progressively inhibited by coincubation with increasing doses of unlabeled GnRH-A. Despite high correlations between mean grain number and mean plaque area in dose-response curves, the correlation coefficients for these parameters were low (range 0.02-0.38) in the individual cells comprising these groups. We conclude that GnRH receptor number for any individual gonadotrope is a weak determinant of the amount of LH it can secrete; nevertheless, full occupancy of all its GnRH receptors is required for any gonadotrope to reach its full LH-secretory capacity. Apparently the levels of other factors comprising the steps along the secretory pathway determine the secretory capacity of an individual cell.

Expression of a wheat alpha-gliadin gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A vector was constructed that directs the expression of foreign genes in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This vector contains an expression site that was constructed by in vitro modification of the iso-1-cytochrome c (CYC1) gene of S. cerevisiae. The expression of heterologous sequences can be experimentally controlled by catabolite control sequences, promoter and transcription initiation sequences and termination sequence derived from the CYC1 gene. A portion of a genomic wheat alpha-gliadin gene consisting of the entire 861 bp of protein-coding sequence, 18 bp of 5' leader sequence and 54 bp of 3'-noncoding sequence was inserted into the expression site. A CYC1::alpha-gliadin transcript of approx. 1050 nucleotides was synthesized in transformed yeast under the control of the CYC1 regulatory region. The transcripts terminated within the alpha-gliadin 3'-noncoding region, near a nucleotide sequence similar to the yeast transcription termination consensus sequence. The alpha-gliadin was immunochemically detected in total protein extracts from transformed cells and accounted for approx. 0.1% of the total cellular protein. The size of alpha-gliadin synthesized in yeast is the same as that of mature wheat alpha-gliadin. This is consistent with recognition and cleavage of the signal peptide by yeast. Due to the amino acid composition of alpha-gliadin, the availability of glutamine tRNA is a potential translational limitation to high-level synthesis in yeast.

Antibodies to the binding site of the receptor for luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH): generation with a synthetic decapeptide encoded by an RNA complementary to LHRH mRNA

A molecular recognition code has been hypothesized to exist in which ligands and their binding sites are encoded on complementary segments of genomic DNA. We have tested this hypothesis by generating a rabbit antibody to a synthetic decapeptide (complementary peptide) encoded by an RNA complementary to the mRNA for luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) and determining whether this antibody recognizes the LHRH receptor. When the antibody was used for immunoperoxidase staining of enzymatically dispersed rat anterior pituitary cells, only those that contained and secreted luteinizing hormone (i.e., the gonadotropes) were recognized. This staining could be abolished by preincubation with the complementary peptide or with an LHRH agonist, suggesting that the antibody is specific to the complementary peptide and is directed at the binding site of the receptor. Further evidence that the antibody recognizes the LHRH receptor was obtained in immunoblot experiments on solubilized receptors from pituitary glands. Immunoperoxidase staining with the antibody revealed two bands at 60 kDa and 51 kDa, which are values similar to those previously obtained for the LHRH receptor in photoaffinity-labeling experiments. The staining of these bands was inhibited by preincubation with the complementary peptide or an LHRH agonist. The antibody as well as the complementary peptide to LHRH also suppressed LHRH-stimulated luteinizing hormone release in a quantitative reverse hemolytic plaque assay, presumably by binding to the LHRH receptor and by binding LHRH, respectively. These findings suggest that the synthetic decapeptide whose sequence is specified by the complementary RNA to LHRH mRNA is sufficiently similar to an LHRH binding site that the peptide not only binds LHRH but was also recognized by the immune system as such a site. These findings provide strong support for the hypothesis that recognition molecules are encoded by complementary segments of genomic DNA.

Dopamine levels in the anterior pituitary gland monitored by in vivo electrochemistry

The present study was designed to assess the contributions of the long portal vessel and neurointermediate lobe routes of dopamine delivery to the anterior pituitary gland. Dopamine levels were monitored in the anterior pituitary of anesthetized diestrus 1 rats using in vivo differential pulse voltammetry at a carbon paste electrode. Measurements were taken during control periods, following neurointermediate lobectomy and hypophysial stalk section or after inhibition of catecholamine synthesis and dopamine infusion. Neurointermediate lobectomy resulted in a slight rise in plasma prolactin and a significant fall in voltammetric current. Subsequent stalk section elevated prolactin significantly and further reduced the voltammetric output. Inhibiting catecholamine synthesis significantly elevated plasma prolactin and reduced the voltammetric current. Stepped infusions of dopamine then suppressed plasma prolactin and elevated the voltammetric output in a dose related manner. The final values of both parameters were not significantly different from pre-inhibition levels. These data provide direct estimates of the relative contributions of various vascular routes to dopamine in the anterior pituitary and support the sufficiency of dopamine as the physiological inhibitor of prolactin secretion.

Subpopulations of lactotropes detected with the reverse hemolytic plaque assay show differential responsiveness to dopamine

Cultured adenohypophysial cells secreting PRL were detected with a reverse hemolytic plaque assay. In this assay, PRL secretion from a pituitary cell results in hemolysis of cocultured protein A-coupled ovine erythrocytes in the presence of PRL antiserum and complement, so that a zone of hemolysis (a plaque) surrounds each lactotrope. The extent of hemolysis was related to the amount of PRL secreted by each lactotrope: batches of cohort cells incubated under similar conditions either in petri dishes for measurement of PRL secretion by RIA or in Cunningham chambers for measurement of plaque area revealed a significant relationship between secreted PRL and plaque area (r = 0.97; regression coefficient = 0.0007 pg/micron2). Measurement of plaque area on lactotropes derived from proestrous rats revealed a bimodal frequency distribution that was composed of cells forming small plaques (35% of the total lactotrope population) and others forming large plaques (65%). Treatment with 10(-7) M dopamine appeared to preferentially inhibit the large plaques; they decreased to 42% of the total with corresponding increases in the number of small plaques, but the total number of secretory lactotropes did not change. At 10(-5) M dopamine, large plaques virtually disappeared (only 9% remained), and small plaques appeared in increased numbers, but the number of secretory lactotropes decreased by about one third. These results suggest that the reverse hemolytic plaque assay can be used to quantify PRL secretion by individual lactotropes, that lactotropes from proestrous rats exist as two secretory subpopulations, and that dopamine may preferentially suppress the subpopulation secreting large amounts of PRL.

Detection and measurement of secretion from individual neuroendocrine cells using a reverse hemolytic plaque assay

Recent advances in technology have dramatically increased the resolution with which we may examine many features of biological systems. Intracellular recording and tracer injection techniques allow one to study the function of individual neurons and later characterize the same cells morphologically. In situ hybridization techniques can give us information about messenger RNA levels in single cells. More established techniques such as immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy also provide information at the cellular and even subcellular level. With each of these technological advances we have learned more about the mechanisms underlying cell function. We are also beginning to appreciate the role of heterogeneity among cells in relation to the function of the whole organism. Application of the reverse hemolytic plaque assay to the study of hormone or neurotransmitter secretion should help clarify this role. This technique permits accurate quantitation of hormone secreted from a large number of cells. Thus while cells can be studied individually they can also be categorized into functional subpopulations. As discussed in this chapter, many other techniques may be applied on cells which have already been functionally defined with the plaque assay. This should result in a clearer understanding of the roles of secretagogue binding and internalization, activation of second messenger systems, protein synthesis, and the cytoskeleton in hormone secretion. In the plaque assays described in this chapter individual pituitary cells are isolated in culture free from possible interactive effects coming from other cells. While these interactions are no doubt critical to the understanding of the function of the organism as a whole they can result in totally uninterpretable results. In fact, when we have gained some understanding into the functioning of individual cells it should be possible using the plaque assay to study the interactions among cells in a controlled fashion.

Oxytocin attenuates TRH-induced TSH release from rat pituitary cells

The observation that suckling evokes a modest rise in serum TSH when compared with that of prolactin is inconsistent with the hypothesis that TRH serves as a hypophysiotropic mediator of this response. In the present study we attempted to provide an explanation for this discrepancy by determining whether any of a growing number of putative prolactin releasing factors could alter pituitary responsiveness to TRH. Anterior pituitaries from lactating (day 14) rats were monodispersed with trypsin, cultured for 2 days, and then incubated in the presence of medium alone or medium containing TRH, dopamine, or a combination of these secretagogues. Companion sets of cultures were incubated concurrently with either beta-endorphin, neurotensin, oxytocin, serotonin, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, or lysine vasopressin. As expected, TRH stimulated and dopamine suppressed prolactin release. None of the substances tested except oxytocin had a significant effect on pituitary cell responsiveness to TRH or dopamine. Oxytocin had no effect on prolactin secretion when tested alone or in combination with TRH and dopamine. TRH alone stimulated TSH release by these cultures, while oxytocin and dopamine were ineffective by themselves. However, TSH secretion by cultures treated simultaneously with TRH and oxytocin could be suppressed to approximately half of that released by cells incubated with TRH alone. These results demonstrate that oxytocin attenuates TRH-induced TSH release by a direct action on pituitary cells without affecting the prolactin response. This selectivity of responsiveness imparted by oxytocin might contribute to the blunted release of TSH after suckling.

Specificity of pseudorabies virus serotests

Pigs experimentally inoculated with bovine herpesvirus-1 or equine herpesvirus-1 developed mild clinical disease signs. Regression of clinical disease was accompanied by development of specific virus-neutralizing antibodies. These antibodies did not react positively with pseudorabies antigens in the serum-virus neutralization test, an indirect radioimmunoassay, or a microimmunodiffusion test.

Brief decreases in dopamine result in surges of prolactin secretion in monkeys

We have reported previously that the amount of dopamine in hypophysial stalk blood was sufficient to account for tonic hypothalamic inhibition of prolactin secretion in rhesus monkeys. In the present study we determined the effect on prolactin secretion of decreases in dopamine. When hypophysial stalk-transected, estrogen-treated monkeys were infused with dopamine at a rate (0.1 microgram X kg-1 X min-1) to achieve peripheral plasma concentrations similar to those previously measured in stalk blood, their elevated serum prolactin levels fell to base line (from 47.6 +/- 4.8 to 9.7 +/- 2.7 ng/ml, mean +/- SE, n = 4). Brief interruptions of the dopamine infusions lasting for 2.5, 5.0, or 7.5 min evoked rapid increases in serum prolactin concentrations (to 27.5 +/- 8.3, 52.9 +/- 3.6, and 58.9 +/- 8.1 ng/ml, respectively, at 10 min). Maximal prolactin levels were attained within 10 to 20 min after dopamine removal and serum prolactin remained elevated for an additional 35 to 150 min. Uninterrupted dopamine infusions of stalk-transected, estrogen-treated monkeys (n = 3) led to continuously suppressed prolactin values. These results demonstrate that brief decreases in dopamine lead to major increases in prolactin secretion. Thus, if a brief decrease in hypothalamic dopamine secretion occurs after a suckling stimulus in monkeys, as it does in rats, a decrease in dopamine secretion alone may account, in part, for suckling-induced prolactin secretion in monkeys.

Detection of LH release from individual pituitary cells by the reverse hemolytic plaque assay: estrogen increases the fraction of gonadotropes responding to GnRH

Gonadotropes that secrete LH were demonstrated microscopically among mixed anterior pituitary (AP) cells in culture with a reverse hemolytic plaque assay. LH released from a cell binds to adjacent RBCs bearing an LH Ab-protein A complex which results in a zone of complement-mediated hemolysis (a plaque) surrounding each gonadotrope. In untreated cultures a few, small plaques formed, but in the presence of hypothalamic GnRH (10(-7) M, a maximally stimulating dose) a 10-fold increase occurred in their number and size. Non-secretory gonadotropes were found in the pituitary of diestrous animals: 5-6% of all AP cells contained immunocytochemically detectable LH whereas only 2.5-3.0% formed plaques in the presence of GnRH (10(-7) M). Nearly all of the gonadotropes were secretory at proestrus. Estradiol treatment of diestrous cultures for 24 h increased the fraction of secretory gonadotropes to near the level observed in proestrous cultures. These results demonstrate the utility of the reverse hemolytic plaque assay for detection of LH secretion from individual gonadotropes, establish that not all cells containing LH can secrete it, and suggest that a previously unrecognized mode of estrogen action to evoke the preovulatory LH surge is mediated by increasing the fraction of secretory gonadotropes.

A reverse hemolytic plaque assay for microscopic visualization of growth hormone release from individual cells: evidence for somatotrope heterogeneity

Growth hormone (GH) secreting cells direct complement-mediated plaque formation (clear zones of hemolysis surrounding the somatotropes) in mixed pituitary cell cultures incubated as a monolayer with protein-A coupled ovine erythrocytes (oRBC) in the presence of GH antiserum. Plaques were maximal in number after 4 h; growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and somatostatin increased and decreased, respectively, the rate of formation of plaques and their final sizes. Approximately 30% of all pituitary cells formed GH plaques and a similar fraction stained for GH using peroxidase-antiperoxidase immunocytochemistry (ICC). The plaque areas of individual somatotropes (reflecting the amount of GH released) covered a 20-fold range from the smallest to the largest in the 3 treatment groups. Somatostatin-treated and untreated cells formed frequency distributions of plaque sizes that were unimodal. In contrast, GHRH produced a bimodal frequency distribution suggestive of a sub-population of somatotropes preferentially responsive to this secretagogue. This new assay coupled with other morphological and biochemical techniques that can be applied to single cells will permit further analysis of these sub-populations of somatotropes.

Biphasic effects of estrogen on gonadotropin-releasing hormone-induced luteinizing hormone release in monolayer cultures of rat and monkey pituitary cells

The negative feedback effect of estrogen on LH secretion has been difficult to demonstrate in monolayer cultures of rat pituitary cells. The purpose of the present study was to establish the experimental conditions required for manifestation of this response and, in the process, to develop models for investigating the actions of steroids on pituitary cells. Both dynamic and static incubation systems were used. For perifusion experiments, trypsin-dispersed pituitary cells from rats at random stages of the estrous cycle were attached to glass coverslips with poly-L-lysine, incubated for 48 h, and then mounted in Sykes-Moore chambers. In each of these experiments, two chambers were perifused concurrently: one with medium containing 1.8 X 10(-10) M 17 beta-estradiol and the other with medium alone. GnRH (4.2 X 10(-9) M) was coinfused for 5 min out of every hour, and samples of perifusate were collected as 5-min fractions for assay of LH. Estrogen treatment significantly (P less than 0.01) suppressed LH release in response to the first five GnRH pulses compared to the control value. The inhibition was most pronounced early in the perifusion, but had disappeared by 6 h. These results demonstrate that estradiol exerts a potent but transient inhibition of GnRH-induced LH release in monolayer cultures of rat pituitary cells. In a subsequent set of experiments, we modified a static incubation system to assess sequentially the biphasic effects of estrogen on LH release by the same group of cells. Cultures of rat pituitary cells that had been established 42 h previously were treated simultaneously for 3 h with 17 beta-estradiol (3.7 X 10(-10) M) and various concentrations of GnRH (5 X 10(-10) to 1 X 10(-7) M) to measure the inhibitory effects of the steroid on LH secretion. This experiment was repeated on the same cells after 27 h of steroid exposure to estimate the facilitory actions of estrogen on LH release. The negative feedback of estrogen was demonstrable in static cultures of rat pituitaries provided that the period of estrogen exposure and duration of incubation were brief. Moreover, the results indicate that the same groups of cells can be used on consecutive days to investigate the inhibitory and stimulatory effects of estrogen on LH secretion. Experiments with cultures of monkey pituitary cells yielded similar results. Taken together, these findings indicate that cultured pituitary cells are responsive to the biphasic actions of estradiol and demonstrate the utility of two model systems for investigating these phenomena.