Evidence for the intrinsic activity of ovine FSH on spermatogenesis, ovarian growth, steroidogenesis and ovulation in lizards.

Abstract

An antiserum against LH was used to study the intrinsic properties of a highly purified ovine FSH in the lizard. Removal of residual LH contamination with this antiserum did not alter the broad spectrum of activities exhibited by FSH in the hypophysectomized lizard. The FSH stimulated all aspects of the reproductive system including testis growth, spermatogenesis and testosterone production in males; and ovarian growth, vitellogenesis, ovulation and oviducal growth (estrogen secretion) in females. It appears that the “primitive” role of FSH may have encompassed a great diversity of actions, including those often attributed to LH in mammals. The roles of the two pituitary gonadotropins, FSH and LH, have still not been fully elucidated, even in well studied mammalian species. In particular, use of highly purified preparations of the two hormones and new immunological techniques have raised considerable doubt about the actions of the two hormones. Some of the activities classically