title: The insulin-like growth factor system in the GT1-7 GnRH neuronal cell line.
abstract: Evidence suggests that insulin-like growth factors (IGFs; IGF-I and IGF-II) are involved in the regulation of reproductive function including the development of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neuronal system and the modulation of GnRH secretory activities. To further characterize the regulatory role of the IGF system on GnRH neuronal function, we have examined the gene expression of IGF-I, IGF-II, IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR), and IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) in a GnRH neuronal cell line (GT1-7 cells). The relative effects of IGFs and insulin on GnRH secretion by these cells was also investigated. RT-PCR analysis demonstrated IGF-I, IGF-II and IGF-IR mRNAs in GT1-7 cells. The mRNAs for IGFBP-2, -3, -4, -5 and -6 but not IGFBP-1 were also detected. Immunoreactive protein bands for IGFBP-2, -4 and -5 but not for other IGFBPs were demonstrated by Western blot with IGFBP-5 appearing to be the most abundant IGFBP secreted by GT1-7 cells. IGFBP-5 production by GT1-7 cells was stimulated by both IGF-I and IGF-II in a dose-dependent manner with approximately equal potency, whereas insulin caused no significant effect. GnRH secretion by GT1-7 cells treated with IGF-I or IGF-II but not insulin showed an increase (80-100%) at 2 h of treatment followed by a decrease (46%) at 6 h that continued up to 24 h. We conclude that the expression of IGFs, IGF-IR and IGFBPs and their interactions in the regulation of GnRH secretion by GT1-7 cells as demonstrated by our study provide a basis for an autocrine regulatory role for the IGF system in GnRH neuronal secretory activities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, Calif., USA.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: I H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Zwain
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arroyo
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Mellon
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Yen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017931:DNA Primers; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000166:cytology; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000494:pharmacology; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Q000494:pharmacology; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D013002:Somatomedins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013002:Somatomedins; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1