title: Cell specific distribution of LH/hCG receptor messenger ribonucleic acid in rat testicular Leydig cells.
abstract: By using four different cell isolation procedures, we previously identified two morphologically and biochemically distinct Leydig cell populations in rat testis. The light cells were vacuolated and bound 125I-labeled human choriogonadotropin (hCG) with high affinity but upon hCG stimulation in vitro, cAMP and testosterone production by these cells were minimal. On the other hand, the heavier cells displayed typical Leydig cell morphology and bound very little hCG but vigorously produced cAMP and testosterone (Browne, E.S., Bhalla, V.K., 1991, J. Androl. 12:132-139). This study examines the distribution of LH/hCG receptor mRNAs in the two cell types. The light cell fraction contains larger transcripts of LH/hCG receptor but the heavier Leydig cells contain shorter transcripts. The observations raises the intriguing possibility that shorter rather than larger LH/hCG receptor transcripts are responsible for the induction of a biologically functional, G-protein coupled, LH/hCG receptor in Leydig cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology & Endocrinology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta 30912.
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Bhalla
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Behzadian
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: E F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.forename: V B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Mahesh
authors.forename: T O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Abney
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000378:metabolism; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011974:Receptors, LH / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011974:Receptors, LH; D013739:Testosterone; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins