Luteinizing hormone receptors in ovaries of the cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) during the menstrual cycle

Abstract

Ovarian luteinizing hormone (LH) receptors were characterized using ovarian tissues from 17 cynomolgus monkeys at different phases of the menstrual cycle. Low binding affinity receptors for 125I-LH were observed throughout the menstrual cycle. The binding affinity of these receptors for LH (< 12 × 1010 M-1) was approximately the same as that of ovarian LH receptors previously reported in human and nonhuman primates. In addition, high-affinity receptors (17-85 × 1010 M-1) were also detected at the mid-luteal phase, during which a large functional corpus luteum was present. Thus the high-affinity LH receptors appear with the formation of the corpus luteum and disappear with its regression. Almost no fluctuation of binding capacity was observed throughout the menstrual cycle (32-112 fmol/ mg of ovarian tissue). The high-affinity LH receptor was judged to be derived from the functional corpus luteum.