Kinetics of release of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) by primary cultures of dispersed rat anterior pituitary cells. Chronic effect of synthetic LH and FSH releasing hormone

Abstract

The kinetics of release of LH and FSH have been followed in primary cultures of dispersed rat anterior pituitary cells maintained up to two months, either in control media or in media containing 2ng/ml of LH-RH. In control cultures the LH and FSH contents in the media dropped during the first seven days, then decreased more slowly, and finally reached a low or undetectable level with some irregular variations. Starting on the 6th or 7 th day, the FSH/LH ratio increased and in some series FSH alone remained at a detectable level. The LH-RH induced an increase of both LH and FSH release. This increase appeared only after the first 5 days of culture. The stimulatory effect of LH release reached a maximum on day 11 to 13 and thereafter progressively decreased to the level of the control. The stimulatory effect of FSH release reached a maximum later than did that of LH, and generally remained significant for a longer time. The maximum of the FSH response was close or inferior to that of the LH response.