Effects of LHRH, FSH and activin A on follistatin secretion from cultured rat anterior pituitary cells.
We demonstrated the release of follistatin, an activin-binding protein, from cultured rat anterior pituitary cells by measuring immunoreactive (ir-) follistatin in a specific immunoradiometric assay. Ir-follistatin release gradually increased in cultures over 1-18 days and reached its maximal level at 12-15 days of incubation. The basal ir-follistatin levels in the culture media increased about 3- (P < 0.01) and 5-fold (P < 0.001) in 2 and 10% fetal calf serum for 6 days, respectively. LHRH and activin A caused an approximately 2.0- (P < 0.05) and 1.8-fold (P < 0.05) rise in ir-follistatin release, respectively, in contrast to the lack of significant FSH effects. The culture medium condensed on sulfate-cellulofine gel was resolved by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and blotted with anti-follistatin polyclonal antibody, resulting in at least three protein bands ranging from 35 to 50 kDa under non-reducing conditions. These results indicated that follistatin is produced in anterior pituitary cells and that its secretion is regulated at least in part by LHRH and activin, implying an autocrine/paracrine role of activin and follistatin in the pituitary.
Liu
Z H
ZH
First Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Tokushima, Japan.
Shintani
Y
Y
Sakamoto
Y
Y
Harada
K
K
Zhang
C Y
CY
Fujinaka
Y
Y
Abe
M
M
Goto
T
T
Saito
S
S
D028341:Activins; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D038681:Follistatin; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D015592:Immunoradiometric Assay; D007265:Inhibins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors
D038681:Follistatin; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006133:Growth Substances; D028341:Activins; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D007265:Inhibins; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone