Effects of sex steroid hormones on rat anterior pituitary LH-RH receptor.
In order to elucidate the mechanism of estrogen action at the anterior pituitary level, the effects of estradiol on the number of binding sites of LH-RH receptor in the anterior pituitary as well as its effects on the anterior pituitary responsiveness to LH-RH were studied in castrated adult female rats. Daily sc injections of 20 micrograms of 17 beta-estradiol for 2 and 4 days increased both LH-RH receptor levels and the responsiveness of the pituitary to LH-RH. This result indicates that estrogen modulates the sensitivity of the anterior pituitary to LH-RH by changing its LH-RH receptor.
D000818:Animals; D002369:Castration; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000032:analysis* / Q000187:drug effects; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000032:analysis*; D011966:Receptors, LHRH
D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D011966:Receptors, LHRH; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone