title: Homologous down-regulation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptors and desensitization of gonadotropes: lack of dependence on protein kinase C.
abstract: The demonstration that GnRH provokes the accumulation of diacylglycerol and the redistribution of protein kinase C to the membrane fraction in gonadotropes suggests a role for this enzyme as a mediator of GnRH action. In the present work we have investigated the possibility that protein kinase C might mediate GnRH-stimulated receptor down-regulation and desensitization. Pretreatment of pituitary cells for 6 h with GnRH (10(-11) - 10(-6) M) caused a biphasic change in GnRH receptor number [the maximum binding (Bmax) for 125I-buserelin binding was increased by 10(-10) M GnRH and reduced by 10(-7) and 10(-6) M GnRH] and caused desensitization (pretreatment with 10(-9) - 10(-6) M GnRH reduced the proportion of cellular LH released in a subsequent challenge with GnRH). Pretreatment for 6 h with 0.2-200 nM phorbol myristate acetate (a protein kinase C-activating phorbol ester) did not cause desensitization, but at 200 nM, did reduce GnRH receptor number. As a further test of the requirement for protein kinase C for GnRH action, cells were depleted of all measurable protein kinase C (and rendered unresponsive to protein kinase C activators) by prior treatment with a high dose of phorbol myristate acetate (500 nM for 6 h followed by 12 h in plating medium). Depletion of protein kinase C did not alter the ability of GnRH to desensitize gonadotropes or down-regulate its own receptors. The demonstration that the effects of GnRH on receptor number and gonadotrope responsiveness are neither blocked by depletion of protein kinase C nor entirely mimicked by activation of protein kinase C suggests that these effects of the releasing hormone are not solely mediated by this enzyme.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Iowa, College of Medicine, Iowa City 52242.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: McArdle
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Gorospe
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Huckle
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Conn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002064:Buserelin / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011966:Receptors, LHRH / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D011966:Receptors, LHRH; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; D002064:Buserelin