Growth hormone secretion in stalk-sectioned rats

Idiopathic pituitary GH deficiency appears to result from neonatal disruption of hypophyseal portal vessels in the majority of patients. To examine the mechanism of GH deficiency associated with the disease, the effect of pituitary stalk section on GH secretion was studied in rats. Adult male rats were subjected to stalk section without inserting an impermeable membrane between the cut ends. They were studied 3 to 4 weeks after surgery. In stalk-sectioned rats, pituitary weight, body weight and hypothalamic SRIH content were significantly reduced as compared with sham-operated rats. Hypothalamic GHRH content, plasma T3, T4, corticosterone and testosterone levels, and weights of testes remove and adrenal glands were comparable in the two groups. Plasma GH profiles of sham-operated rats showed characteristic periodic pulses occurring at 2.5-3 h intervals with intervening trough period. In stalk-sectioned rats, plasma GH levels were low small fluctuations, but GH levels were significantly higher than trough levels of sham-operated rats. The amount of GH secreted during a 6-h period as measured by planimetry was significantly reduced. To ascertain the regeneration of hypophyseal portal vessels, post SRIH rebound in GH secretion, which requires the presence of endogenous GHRH, was examined. Withdrawal of exogenous SRIH infusion triggered a large rebound GH secretion whose magnitude did not differ between groups. In stalk-sectioned rats, GH response to met-enkephalin analogue, FK 33-824, was not observed, whereas prolactin response to the secretagogue was observed in the majority of rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Electrical stimulation of hypothalamic periventricular nucleus is followed by a large rebound secretion of growth hormone in unanesthetized rats

The effect of electrical stimulation of the hypothalamic periventricular nucleus (PVN) on plasma GH profile was studied in unanesthetized female Wistar rats. A bipolar concentric electrode was implanted into the PVN, hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus (VMH), or intervening area between the PVN and VMH. Serial blood specimens were collected from an indwelling right atrial cannula. Plasma GH levels were reduced significantly during electrical stimulation of PVN, and a large rise of plasma GH levels followed after cessation of stimulation. An identical plasma GH profile was observed in response to the repeated stimulation. This rebound secretion of GH was completely inhibited by the administration of rat GRF antiserum. The effect of electrical stimulation of VMH on plasma GH levels was similar to that of PVN stimulation. However, the stimulation of hypothalamic area intervening between PVN and VMH was not followed by a surge of GH secretion. Since a continuous exposure of somatotrophs to GRF even in a concurrent presence of somatostatin (SS) is known to induce attenuation of the GH response to GRF through receptor effect, the results suggest that the release of endogenous GRF is augmented following the cessation of electrical stimulation of neurons providing hypophysiotropic SS.

Inhibitory effect of aclarubicin on endothelium-dependent relaxation of rat aorta

The effects of aclarubicin on endothelium-dependent and -independent vasorelaxations were investigated in aortic strips from rats. Aclarubicin (5.9-23.6 microM) inhibited endothelium-dependent relaxation and the increment of the cyclic GMP level in aortic strips in response to acetylcholine but not the endothelium-independent relaxation and the increase of cyclic GMP level in response to sodium nitroprusside. Aclarubicin also inhibited endothelium-dependent relaxations in response to ATP and calcium ionophore A23187. These results suggest that aclarubicin can inhibit endothelium-dependent relaxation by acting somewhere distal to receptor stimulation in vascular endothelial cells.

Development of tolerance to inhibitory effect of ethanol on endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation in ethanol-fed rats

Rats were maintained on liquid diets containing ethanol (35% of total calories) or an equicaloric volume of sucrose instead of ethanol for 10 wk. Vascular strips of isolated rat aortas were mounted in organ chambers to record isometric tension. Ethanol in vitro inhibited the endothelium-dependent relaxation responses to acetylcholine and ATP in both pair-fed control and ethanol-fed rats. The inhibitory effect of ethanol was greater in the pair-fed rats. In addition, the magnitudes of these relaxation responses in the absence of ethanol in vitro in pair-fed rats were similar to those in the presence of ethanol in ethanol-fed rats. In the absence of ethanol in vitro, the relaxations in response to acetylcholine and ATP in the ethanol-fed rats were greater than in the pair-fed rats. These results suggest that chronic ethanol consumption can induce tolerance to ethanol-induced inhibition of endothelium-dependent relaxation responses to acetylcholine and ATP, and that the relaxations can become adapted to the presence of plasma levels of ethanol, which may inhibit the relaxation in vivo. The augmented relaxation in the ethanol-fed rats may result from the mechanism causing tolerance to the inhibitory effect of ethanol.

Inhibitory effect of the endothelium on thrombin-induced contraction in rabbit aorta

1. Thrombin caused a tonic contractile response in rabbit aortic strips which showed tachyphylaxis. 2. Thrombin-induced contraction was partially dependent upon extracellular calcium. 3. Contractile response by lower concentrations of thrombin was suppressed by the endothelium. This endothelial effect was blocked by methylene blue, hemoglobin, bromophenacyl bromide or removal of extracellular calcium but not by indomethacin, nordihydroguaiaretic acid or nifedipine. 4. Cyclic GMP levels were not different between the thrombin-stimulated and control strips. 5. Thrombin could not stimulate prostacyclin release from the aortic strips. 6. These results suggest that thrombin possesses a contractile action in rabbit aortic smooth muscle which is attenuated by endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) spontaneously released from the endothelium during the contraction.

Potentiating effect of daunorubicin on vasocontractile responses to KCl and BAY K 8644 in rat aorta

The effects of daunorubicin on vasoconstraction by several agonists have been investigated on isolated aortic strips from rats. Pretreatment of the strips with daunorubicin (17.7 microM) potentiated the contractile response to low concentrations of KCl or to BAY K 8644 but not to phenylephrine or clonidine. The maximal contractile response to KCl was not affected by the pretreatment while that to BAY K 8644 was increased. The potentiated response to KCl could be eliminated by addition of nifedipine (1 microM) or use of a calcium-free solution. The maximal contractile response to BAY K 8644 was greatly increased by partial depolarization with KCl (10 mM, final concn) in the control solution but only slightly increased by the partial depolarization in the solution with daunorubicin. These results suggest that daunorubicin facilitates activation of the voltage-dependent calcium channel and increases the contractile responses to KCl and BAY K 8644 in rat aorta.

Influence of the endothelium on vascular responses of aortae from endotoxic rats

Intraperitoneal injection of endotoxin diminished the in-vitro contractile response of rat aorta to phenylephrine or clonidine, whether the intimal layer was disrupted or not. The relaxing responses to acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside in aorta precontracted with 10(-6) M phenylephrine were similar between control and endotoxic groups. However, when the precontractile force following phenylephrine was adjusted to an equivalent level, the relaxing responses to acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside were diminished in the endotoxic aorta compared with the controls. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the increase in cyclic GMP levels induced by acetylcholine or by sodium nitroprusside. These results suggest that aortae from endotoxic rats show decreased responsiveness to alpha-adrenoceptor stimulation not because of enhancement of the endothelium-derived relaxing factor but because of abnormality in the vascular smooth muscle which is not specific for subtypes of the alpha-adrenoceptor.

Effect of aging on endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation of isolated human basilar artery to thrombin and bradykinin

Using strips of human basilar arteries mounted in organ chambers to record isometric tension, we investigated vascular reactivity to thrombin and bradykinin. Both agents produced endothelium-dependent relaxation of basilar artery strips precontracted with phenylephrine but had no effect on resting tension in strips with or without endothelium. The relaxations caused by thrombin were abolished by antithrombin III/heparin, hirudin, and MD805. Thrombin but not bradykinin caused complete tachyphylaxis toward a second exposure. Indomethacin did not inhibit the relaxations induced by thrombin or bradykinin, whereas bromophenacyl bromide and methylene blue did. Aging decreased the relaxation induced by thrombin but did not affect the concentration needed to reach 50% maximal relaxation, nor did it affect the maximal relaxation in response to bradykinin, calcium ionophore A23187, and sodium nitroprusside. Our results suggest that thrombin and bradykinin produce endothelium-dependent relaxations mediated by an endothelium-derived relaxing substance and that the relaxation caused by thrombin is mediated by a proteolytic action on endothelial cells. The decrease in relaxations in response to thrombin with increasing age might be due to a decrease in the number or sensitivity of thrombin receptors on endothelial cells.

Immunocytochemical demonstration of GAP-like immunoreactive neuronal elements in the human hypothalamus and pituitary

GnRH-associated peptide (GAP)-like immunonreactive elements located in the human hypothalamus were investigated by PAP immunocytochemistry using specific antiserum against [pro-GnRH (14-69) OH]. Immunoreactive neuronal perikarya were distributed in the MPOA, PVN and infundibular nucleus, with the largest numbers of GAP-like immunoreactive perikarya found in the infundibular nucleus. We also detected the coexistence of GAP-like and GnRH-like immunoreactivities in the same neuronal perikarya in the MPOA by using a double immunolabelling procedure. In addition to the above regions immunoreactive neuronal perikarya were present in the region dorsal to the medial mammillary nucleus. GAP-like immunoreactive fibers were distributed in same areas that immunoreactive perikarya were observed. Many immunoreactive terminals were found adjacent to capillaries in the infundibulum. Immunoreactive dots, presumably terminals, were observed in the posterior pituitary and these were particularly evident along the margin adjacent to the anterior pituitary. The distribution pattern and density of GAP-like immunoreactive neuronal elements are compared with those of other mammalian species. We also compared GAP-like immunoreactive elements with that of GnRH as has been previously observed in the human hypothalamus.

Effect of intermittent infusions of somatostatin on growth hormone secretion in unrestrained male rats with hypothalamic deafferentation

The effect of intermittent infusions of somatostatin (SS) on growth hormone (GH) secretion was studied in unrestrained adult male rats deprived largely of SS influence on the medial basal hypothalamus by anterolateral deafferentation (AL-cut). In addition, the influence of hypothalamic surgery on the plasma GH response to beta-endorphin (beta-END) was observed. In sham-operated rats, high-amplitude GH pulses separated by low baseline levels occurred at 185 min intervals. In rats with AL-cut, GH pulses were difficult to identify upon visual appraisal and baseline plasma GH levels became significantly higher than those of sham-operated rats. When AL-cut was performed unilaterally (half-AL-cut), low amplitude GH pulses separated by elevated baseline GH levels occurred at frequent intervals. The amount of GH secreted during 6 h was significantly reduced in rats with AL-cut or half-AL-cut as compared to that of sham-operated rats. The plasma GH response to intracerebroventricular injection of beta-END (4 micrograms) was abolished in AL-cut rats, and the response was significantly reduced in half-AL-cut rats as compared to that of sham-operated rats. When AL-cut rats were subjected to repeated infusions of SS (30 micrograms/kg b. wt./h, 150 min) separated by 30 min control periods, a large rebound of GH secretion was observed after removal and the amount of GH secreted during 6 h became comparable to that of sham-operated rats. The results suggest that SS plays important roles in the dynamic secretion of GH.

Effect of age on contractile response to angiotensin II in rat aorta

The effects of aging on contractile response to angiotensin II and tachyphylaxis to it were investigated using aortic strips from rats aged 1.5, 4 and 22 months. Whether the endothelium was present or not, the contractile response to angiotensin II was greater and tachyphylaxis to it was less in 1.5-month-old rats than in 4- and 22-month-old rats. The differences between 4- and 22-month-old rats were not significant. Removal of the endothelium enhanced angiotensin II-induced maximal contraction and depressed the tachyphylaxis, these endothelial effects being greater in 4- rather than in 1.5-month-old rats. When the contractile force of angiotensin II was adjusted to a similar level for 1.5- and 4-month-old rats, the endothelial effect on the tachyphylaxis was greater in the 4-month-old rats, but no significant difference was noted in the endothelial effect on the contractile force. These results suggest that during growth, the contractile response of rat aorta to angiotensin II decreases while the endothelial effect on it increases.

Brain corticotropin-releasing factor acts as inhibitor of stress-induced gastric erosion in rats

Gastric lesions are known to be caused by stress. Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is a key peptide initiating various stress response. This study was designed to investigate how brain CRF is involved in the occurrence of stress-induced gastric erosion in rats. Intracerebroventricular (icv) administration of CRF suppressed the occurrence of gastric erosion induced by water-immersion restraint stress, and its suppressive effect was blocked by coadministration of a CRF receptor antagonist in rats. The peripheral administration of CRF had no influence on the occurrence of erosion. The icv administration of a CRF receptor antagonist or anti-rat CRF gamma-globulin increased gastric erosion induced by the stress. Ganglionic blockade with chlorisondamine, muscarinic blockade with atropine, or bilateral adrenalectomy by itself significantly inhibited the occurrence of stress-induced gastric erosion, and no additional effect of CRF on these treatments-induced inhibition of erosion was found. These results, therefore, suggest that the occurrence of stress-induced gastric erosion is mediated by the autonomic nervous system- and adrenal-dependent pathway, and that brain CRF reduces the occurrence of stress-induced gastric lesions by acting on its specific receptor within the central nervous system, probably through the autonomic nervous system- and adrenal-dependent mechanism.

Vasocontractile action of daunorubicin

Daunorubicin (35.5-142 mumol L-1) induced in rat aortic strips a contraction with slow onset and a gradual development of tension on which neither phentolamine nor bromophenacyl bromide pretreatment had an effect. The contraction was not altered by removal of the endothelium but it was suppressed in calcium-free solution or by preincubation with nifedipine. These results suggest that daunorubicin directly stimulates vascular smooth muscle and induces a contractile response which is mainly dependent upon extracellular calcium.

Inhibitory effect of ethanol on endothelium-dependent vascular responsiveness

The effect of ethanol was studied on the endothelium-dependent vascular responses in isolated rat aortic strips. Ethanol depressed the endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by acetylcholine and ATP but not that induced by the calcium ionophore, A23187. Endothelium-independent relaxation in response to sodium nitroprusside, a soluble guanylate cyclase activator, was not depressed by ethanol. On the other hand, ethanol significantly enhanced the contractile response to clonidine, an alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist, in endothelium-intact strips and depressed it in endothelium-denuded strips. These results suggest that ethanol can inhibit endothelium-dependent relaxation by acting on endothelial cells but not on smooth muscle cells, and can also suppress an inhibitory effect of the endothelium on alpha 2-adrenoceptor-mediated vasoconstriction.

Effect of aclarubicin on contractile response of rat aorta

The effect of aclarubicin on vasocontractility was investigated using aortic strips isolated from rats. The aortic strips from rats injected i.p. with aclarubicin (4 mg/kg body weight per day for 5 consecutive days) showed diminished contractile responses to KCl and phenylephrine in comparison with the controls injected with 0.9% saline. In vitro preincubation of rat aorta with aclarubicin (20-80 micrograms/ml) attenuated the aortic contractile responses to KCl and phenylephrine compared with the control preincubated with 0.9% saline. These results suggest that aclarubicin reduces the contractility of vascular smooth muscle directly.

Post-somatostatin rebound secretion of growth hormone is dependent on growth hormone-releasing factor in unrestrained female rats

To examine the characteristics of GH secretion following the termination of the infusion of somatostatin, unrestrained adult female Wistar rats were subjected to repeated infusions of somatostatin separated by 30-min control periods. When somatostatin was infused for 150 min at a dose of 3, 30 or 300 micrograms/kg body wt per h, the magnitude of the rebound GH secretion increased in a dose-dependent manner. The infusion of somatostatin at a dose of 300 micrograms/kg body wt per h for 60, 150 or 240 min progressively augmented the size of the rebound GH secretion. When an antiserum to rat GH-releasing factor (GRF) was injected i.v. 10 min before the end of the infusion, the peak amplitude of the rebound GH secretion (300 micrograms/kg body wt, 150 min) was reduced to less than 20% of that of control rats. The rebound GH secretion (300 micrograms/kg body wt per h, 150 min) was augmented by a bolus injection of human GRF (1 microgram/kg body wt). The combined effect of the end of infusion of somatostatin and a bolus injection of GRF on the amount of GH secreted was additive. The plasma GH response to GRF was completely inhibited when human GRF (3 micrograms/kg body wt per h) and somatostatin (300 micrograms/kg body wt per h) were infused simultaneously for 150 min. The magnitude of the rebound GH secretion following the termination of the co-administration was larger than that following the somatostatin infusion alone, but this rebound was not enhanced by a bolus injection of human GRF.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Desensitization of alpha-1 adrenergic receptor mediated smooth muscle contraction in aorta from endotoxic rats

Desensitization of vascular smooth muscles in endotoxemia was studied using the aorta from intraperitoneally endotoxin-injected rats. The KCl- and phenylephrine-induced contractions were significantly decreased in the endotoxic aorta compared to the control. In the endotoxic aorta the phenylephrine-induced contracture showed a gradual tension decrease after reaching a plateau and was attenuated by prior exposure to high concentration of phenylephrine, while KCl produced a sustained contraction and it was not affected by prior exposure to phenylephrine. The phenylephrine- and KCl-induced contractures of the control aorta showed stable plateaus and were not affected by prior exposure to phenylephrine. Neither diminished contractile force nor in vitro desensitization of phenylephrine contracture of isolated aorta was prevented by pretreatment of endotoxic rats with an alpha-adrenergic antagonist, phentolamine. These findings suggest that the contractile response to phenylephrine is easily desensitized in the endotoxic aorta compared to the control and neither this in vitro desensitization nor the diminution of contractile force is caused by in vivo exposure of aorta to a high concentration of catecholamines during endotoxemia.

Effect of alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine and an antiserum to rat growth hormone (GH)-releasing factor (GRF) on plasma GH secretory profile during a continuous infusion of human GRF in rats

The effects of alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (alpha-MT) and an antiserum specific to rat growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) on growth hormone (GH) secretory profile during a 6-h continuous infusion of human GRF(1-44) NH2 were observed in unrestrained adult male Wistar rats. All rats were provided with two indwelling cannulae; one in the right atrium for undisturbed blood collection and the other in the inferior vena cava for 0.9% NaCl or GRF infusion. GRF was administered by an infusion pump at a dose of 50 ng/kg b.wt./min ma GH levels during baseline period were low with little fluctuation. GH secretion was augmented significantly during continuous GRF infusion in control rats but interpeak intervals remained unaltered. When an antiserum specific to rat GRF was administered, episodic GH secretion was abolished. In these rats, pulsatile GH secretion indistinguishable from that of control rats was observed in the continuous presence of human GRF. Although alpha-MT inhibited episodic GH secretion, alpha-MT-treated rats exhibited high-frequency, low-amplitude episodic GH secretion and elevated baseline levels during the stimulation. There were no differences in the amount of GH secreted during GRF infusion between rats that had received either alpha-MT or antiserum to rat GRF. Since GH secretion to GRF is determined largely by somatostatin, the results suggest that phasic release of somatostatin plays an important role in determining the rhythmicity of episodic GH secretion, and that it is modulated by alpha-MT but not by the immunoneutralization of GRF.

Role of calcium in the potentiating effect of phorbol ester on KCl-induced vasocontraction

The mechanism of the potentiating effect of phorbol ester on potassium-induced contraction in rat aorta was investigated. The contractile response to KCl in the medium containing 0.5 mM CaCl2 was significantly increased by pretreatment with 10(-8) M phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), but not with 10(-7) M 4 alpha-phorbol. The dose-response curve to calcium in 30 mM KCl-induced contraction was shifted to the left by PMA pretreatment and the EC50 value (the concentration producing a half maximal response) of calcium was significantly lower in aorta pretreated with PMA than in the control. On the other hand, calcium influx stimulated by 30 mM KCl was not changed by PMA pretreatment. Both the contractile response and the corresponding calcium influx induced by 30 mM KCl were abolished by preincubation with 10(-6) M verapamil for 45 min. These results suggest that activation of protein kinase C potentiates the contractile response to KCl by increasing the sensitivity of the intracellular contractile apparatus for calcium.

Effect of phorbol ester on contractile response of aorta from endotoxic rats

The influence of phorbol ester on the isometric contractile response of aorta from endotoxic rats was examined. In endotoxic rat aorta, the contractile responses to KCl and phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) were both remarkably diminished, compared to those in control rat aorta. Preincubation with PDBu augmented the aortic contractile response to KCl in both control and endotoxic rats. This augmentative effect of PDBu was significantly more pronounced in endotoxic rats than in controls. When the contractile response to 80 mM KCl reached a plateau after PDBu pretreatment, addition of 5 mM CaCl2 (final concentration) to the organ bath completely reversed the diminished contractile response of endotoxic rat aorta to the control level. These results suggest that the hyporesponsiveness of endotoxic rat aorta to KCl may be caused by decreases in both protein kinase C mediated response and calcium sensitivity of vascular smooth muscle cells.

Effect of testosterone on growth hormone secretion in female rats during a continuous infusion of growth hormone releasing factor

The effect of testosterone on growth hormone (GH) secretory pattern during a 6-hour continuous infusion of human GH-releasing factor (GRF) (1-44) NH2 was observed in unrestrained adult female Wistar rats. Rats had been ovariectomized or sham operated 6 weeks previously. Three weeks after the ovariectomy, the rats received sesame oil or testosterone propionate at a dose of 1 or 2 mg s.c. daily for 21 days. All rats were provided with two indwelling cannulae: one in the right atrium for undisturbed blood collection and the other in the inferior vena cava for vehicle or GRF infusion. Vehicle or GRF was administered by an infusion pump at a dose of 50 ng/kg/min for 6 h. Serial blood specimens were obtained every 20 min. Sham-operated adult female Wistar rats exhibited a high-frequency, low-amplitude pulsatile GH secretion during a 6-hour vehicle infusion. When they received a 6-hour continuous infusion of GRF, the amplitudes of GH pulses and baseline GH values were markedly augmented, but the pulse frequency remained unaltered. The GH secretory pattern during a 6-hour vehicle infusion among ovariectomized rats was similar to that of sham-operated female rats, whereas the magnitude of elevation of GH pulse and baseline level in ovariectomized rats were significantly lower than in sham-operated rats. The ovariectomized female rats that had received 2 mg testosterone for 21 days showed a low-frequency, regularly timed, high-amplitude pulsatile GH secretion, and GH values during the intervening period were low. This GH secretory pattern was indistinguishable from that in adult male rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antagonistic effect of somatostatin on corticotropin-releasing factor-induced anorexia in the rat

The effect of somatostatin on corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)-induced anorexia was examined in rats. Intracerebroventricular (icv) administration of 0.11 nmol and 0.21 nmol ovine CRF significantly suppressed food intake of 24 h-starved rats. Icv administration of 0.31 nmol somatostatin 14 and somatostatin 28 partially reversed suppression of food intake induced by icv injection of 0.21 nmol CRF in 24 h-starved rats. These results suggest that somatostatin may counteract the suppressive effect of CRF on food intake within the central nervous system.

Diminution of contractile response of the aorta from endotoxin-injected rats

The contractility of a helical strip of the thoracic aorta was studied in rats injected intraperitoneally with endotoxin. The contractile response to any of the agonistic agents, KCl, norepinephrine or 5-hydroxytryptamine was time dependently diminished in the endotoxin-injected rats compared to the controls. This diminution preceded the depression of blood pressure. When the external calcium concentration was increased from 2.5 to 7.5 mM after the KCl (80 mM)-induced contractile response reached a plateau, the diminished contractile response was reversed in the endotoxin-injected group. The strips from the endotoxin-injected rats showed a higher 45CaCl2 uptake into the vascular tissue with the KCl-stimulated contraction. These findings suggest that the blood pressure depression during endotoxic shock may be attributed partially to the diminished contractility of the blood vessels and that this diminution is induced by a disorder of calcium utilization within vascular smooth muscle during vascular contraction.

Modulation of vascular tonus by the endothelium in experimental diabetes

The role of the vascular endothelium in the contractile response of aortas from streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was investigated using selected agents. Contractile response to KCl was not affected by removal of the endothelium in both diabetic and control groups, but was diminished in the diabetic rats compared to the control rats. Contractile response to clonidine markedly increased after removal of the endothelium in the control group, with the increment being less in the diabetic group. After removal of the endothelium, contractile response to clonidine was poorer in the diabetic group than the control group. Vascular relaxation induced by acetylcholine disappeared when the endothelium was removed in both diabetic and control groups. The degree of reaction to acetylcholine did not significantly differ between the two groups. These results suggest that in diabetic rats, abnormality of the endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation is specific for alpha 2 receptor while that of the vascular smooth muscle reactivity is not receptor-specific.

A radioimmunoassay for human pro-luteinizing hormone-releasing factor [pro-LRF(14-69)OH]

A radioimmunoassay (RIA) for human pro-LRF(14-69)OH was developed with an antiserum, generated in a rabbit, to [Tyr67]pro-LRF(47-67)NH2 conjugated to BSA. This antiserum bound 28-32% of [125I]pro-LRF(14-69)OH at a final dilution of 1:2500 and the binding was inhibited by pro-LRF(14-69)OH in a dose-dependent manner. The sensitivity of the RIA was 31.2-62.5 pg and the dose that inhibited 50% of the binding to the tracer was 280-320 pg. Intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation at 50% inhibition were 8 and 12%, respectively. Neither LRF nor pro-LRF(14-37)OH was recognized by the antiserum. The dilution curve generated with human hypothalamic extract was parallel to that of pro-LRF(14-69)OH. In addition the extract yielded a major immunoreactive peak emerging in elution volumes concordant with [125I]pro-LRF(14-69)OH on Sephadex G-50 chromatography.