title: Minimal quantities of FSH beta subunit are released by rat anterior pituitary cells in primary culture.
abstract: FSH beta in the medium and extracts of cultured rat anterior pituitary cells was quantitated with a heterologous radioimmunoassay utilizing anti-rFSH beta and hFSH beta as the standard and tracer. After 4 days in culture, extracts were prepared from washed cells, cells incubated for 6 h or 24 h in fresh medium or cells incubated for 6 h in the presence of 10(-7) M GnRH. FSH beta/rFSH molar ratios were approximately 0.05, 0.04, 0.21 and 0.35, respectively. The elevation in FSH beta/rFSH molar ratios in 24 h basal and GnRH-treated cultures was due in part to an increase in intracellular FSH beta. Both unstimulated and GnRH-treated cultures contained non-detectable quantities of FSH beta in the medium (less than 0.063 ng/100 000 cells; FSH beta/rFSH molar ratio less than 0.024). Thus, it appears that cultured rat anterior pituitary cells contain a small amount of uncombined FSH beta but that minimal quantities are released. Furthermore, GnRH may increase intracellular quantities of FSH beta but does not induce its release.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone