title: Measurement of the amount of mRNA for gonadotropins during an estradiol-induced preovulatory-like surge of LH and FSH in ovariectomized ewes.
abstract: The amount of messenger RNA (mRNA) for luteinizing hormone beta-subunit (LH beta), follicle-stimulating hormone beta-subunit (FSH beta) and alpha-subunit was measured during estradiol-17 beta (E) positive feedback in ovariectomized (OVX) ewes. During the anestrous season, OVX ewes were given an i.m. injection of E (25 micrograms: n = 5) or oil (control; n = 4) and hourly blood samples were collected for 16 hr. After blood collection, ewes were killed and anterior pituitary glands were removed for analysis of hormone and mRNA content. Preovulatory-like increases in serum concentrations of LH and FSH were measured in E-treated OVX ewes. In two E-treated OVX ewes the serum concentrations of LH and FSH were still increasing, whereas in the remaining three E-treated OVX ewes, serum concentrations of LH were on the decreasing portion of the E-induced preovulatory-like surge. Pituitary content of LH was lower (P less than .10) in E-treated OVX ewes when serum concentrations of LH were decreasing than that measured in control ewes or E-treated OVX ewes in which serum concentrations were still increasing. Pituitary content of FSH and prolactin were similar (P greater than .05) among all groups. The amount of mRNA for LH beta-subunit was similar (P greater than .05) in ewes in which serum concentrations of LH were increasing and in control ewes, but was lower (P less than .05) in ewes with decreasing levels of LH. The amount of mRNA for FSH beta-subunit was lower (P less than .05) in all E-treated OVX ewes (independent of whether serum concentrations of FSH were increasing or decreasing) than that measured in control ewes. There was no difference (P greater than .05) in the amount of mRNA for alpha-subunit among any groups. Thus, amounts of mRNA for the beta-subunits of gonadotropins are reduced, while amounts of mRNA for alpha-subunit are unchanged during estradiol positive feedback in OVX ewes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins 80523.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Hamernik
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Nett
mesh_terms: D000780:Anestrus / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004971:Estrus / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D037201:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, beta Subunit; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000662:veterinary; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000032:analysis*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000032:analysis*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D037201:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, beta Subunit; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004958:Estradiol; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone