title: In vitro heteroregulation of LH receptors by prolactin and FSH in rat granulosa cells.
abstract: The purpose of the present study was to further characterize the regulation of LH/hCG receptors by FSH in granulosa cells and test the hypothesis that the LH/hCG receptor levels are heteroregulated by PRL. Granulosa cells from immature hypophysectomized, DES-treated rats were cultured for 2-4 days in defined medium containing androstenedione (10(-7) M) and/or FSH and PRL, after which [125I]iodo-hCG binding to the granulosa cells was measured. When granulosa cells were cultured for 2 days (days 0-2) with increasing concentrations of FSH (0.1-100 ng/ml), there was a dose related increase in [125I]iode-hCG binding from a control value of 1.05 +/- 0.2 fmoles/10(6) cells to a maximum of 20 +/- 1.8 fmoles/10(6) cells. The miminum, half-maximum (ED50) and maximum doses of FSH were 0.3, 0.5 and 3 ng/ml, respectively. At concentrations of FSH greater than 3 ng/ml there was a progressive decrease in [125I]-iodo-hCG binding to a low value of 6.1 +/- 1 fmoles/10(6) cells at 100 ng/ml of FSH. No changes in [125I]iodo-hCG binding were observed in response to PRL (1 microgram/ml) during the day 0-2 incubation. When granulosa cells were stimulated for 2 days with 20 ng/ml of FSH, washed, and then recultured for another 2 days (days 2-4) with FSH, the LH/hCG receptor content remained high (F leads to F = 17.4 +/- 2.8 fmoles/10(6) cells). In contrast, when FSH-primed cells were recultured for 2 days without FSH, the [125I]iodo-hCG binding decreased sharply to near control levels (F leads to C = 2.5 +/- 0.2 fmoles/10(6) cells). This marked loss of LH/hCG receptors was largely prevented when FSH primed cells were recultured with PRL (F leads to P = 10.3 +/- 1.5 fmoles/10(6) cells). This stimulatory effect of PRL on [125I]iodo-hCG binding was dose-dependent: minimum, ED50, and maximum doses of PRL were 0.2, 0.5 and 1 microgram/ml, respectively. Scatchard-plot analysis revealed that although the dissociation constant (Kd) of the LH/hCG receptors stimulated by FSH and PRL were of similar high affinity (approximately 8 x 10(-11) M), the maximum binding (Bmax) values in the PRL-treated cells were less. Addition of 10(-7) estradiol together with the PRL did not cause a further increase in Bmax values above that observed with PRL alone.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D011388:Prolactin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000187:drug effects*; D011974:Receptors, LH
chemical_list: D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D011974:Receptors, LH; D004958:Estradiol; D011388:Prolactin; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone