title: Thyrotropin-releasing hormone gene expression in cultured anterior pituitary cells: role of gender.
abstract: The present studies were undertaken to investigate the effect of gender on thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) gene expression in cultured anterior pituitary (AP) cells. AP cells derived from 15-day-old male, female, or female pups that had been neonatally treated with testosterone propionate (TP), were cultured for up to 18 days in a modified DMEM/L-15 medium containing 10% fetal calf serum. TRH and AP hormones including GH, prolactin (PRL), luteinizing hormone (LH) and thyrotropin (TSH) were measured by RIA, proTRH mRNA was determined by in situ hybridization using a full-length riboprobe followed by quantification with a computer-assisted image analysis system. Cultures derived from female rats contained significantly (p < 0.01) higher amounts of TRH and secreted approximately twice (p < 0.01) as much TRH under basal conditions and in response to activators of the protein kinase A and C pathways, respectively. In situ hybridization studies revealed that 'female' cultures contained significantly higher amounts of proTRH mRNA compared to 'male' cultures. Computer-assisted image analysis demonstrated that proTRH mRNA levels were 3.5 times higher in 'female' compared to 'male' cultures (p < 0.01), an effect that was the result of a significantly higher number (3 times; p < 0.01) of cells expressing proTRH mRNA in 'female' cultures. Neonatal TP treatment did not affect either proTRH mRNA or TRH peptide levels. In vitro testosterone treatment resulted in a moderate rise (p < 0.05) of intracellular TRH accumulation in cultures from both sexes, however, proTRH mRNA levels remained unchanged.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Brown University/Rhode Island Hospital, Providence 02903.
authors.forename: T O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Bruhn
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rondeel
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Bolduc
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Jackson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D012636:Secretory Rate / Q000235:genetics; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone