title: Kinetic evidence for two components in the priming effect of LH-releasing hormone in the rat.
abstract: The priming effect of LHRH on LH release from prooestrous rat hemipituitary glands in vitro was analysed by kinetic approaches. Concentration-response curves for LHRH-, K(+)- and ionomycin-induced LH release were constructed for initial exposure to the secretagogues and after 'priming' with a low dose of LHRH (100 pg/ml). These data were analysed by a non-linear curve-fitting programme to reveal the potency and maxima of the responses before and after priming. The parameters obtained from the curves fitted to the LHRH concentration-response curves showed that two changes had occurred as a result of priming. There was an increase in the maximum amount of hormone released and also a relatively greater ability for low concentrations of LHRH to cause release (increased potency). The data for K+ and ionomycin revealed only one change as a result of priming, an increase in the maximum amount of hormone available for release. The data indicate that LHRH, after self-priming, releases more hormone by at least two routes, one represented by a general increase in stimulus-secretion coupling (which is available to K+ and ionomycin), the other a specific up-regulation of signal transduction by the LHRH receptor-effector system.
authors.affiliation: MRC Brain Metabolism Unit, University Department of Pharmacology, Edinburgh.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D015759:Ionomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D015759:Ionomycin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D011188:Potassium