Differential expression of c-fos in vitro by all anterior pituitary cell types during the estrous cycle: enhanced expression by luteinizing hormone but not by follicle-stimulating hormone cells.
C-fos expression appears in some activated cell types. Because of dynamic changes in gonadotropes during the estrous cycle, this study was initiated to determine if fos might be expressed in gonadotropes before any period of activation. We detected c-fos and pituitary antigens in dissociated anterior pituitary cells by dual-labeling immunocytochemistry. The highest percentage of cells with fos protein were found in proestrous rat populations. In diestrous and proestrous populations, dual labeling showed that 6-9% of pituitary cells contained fos with adrenocorticotropin, thyroid-stimulating hormone, prolactin, or growth hormone antigens. In contrast, only 0.8-3% contained fos with luteinizing hormone (LH) or follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) antigens. We then tested the hypothesis that gonadotropes might increase fos expression earlier in the cycle. In populations from metestrous rats, c-fos labeling was found in 45% of LH cells compared to only 23% of LH cells in the proestrous group. This suggests that proportionately more LH cells are being activated to produce fos early in the cycle. Perhaps fos is used in translation of LH beta antigens or gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor mRNAs. In contrast, less than 1% of all pituitary cells expressed fos with FSH at all stages of the cycle (only 6-12% of FSH cells). This differential expression suggests one mechanism behind the regulation of non-parallel storage and release of gonadotropin antigens.
Armstrong
J
J
Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77555, USA.
Childs
G V
GV
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D004031:Diestrus; D004971:Estrus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000032:analysis*; D015870:Gene Expression; D016762:Genes, fos; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000032:analysis; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000032:analysis*; D008686:Metestrus; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011359:Proestrus; D011388:Prolactin / Q000032:analysis; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000032:analysis
D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013006:Growth Hormone