Acute desensitization of pituitary FSH response to LHRH in ovariectomized rats: further evidence that in the presence of ovarian proteins the LHRH-dependent, LH-like component of FSH release becomes apparent
ABSTRACT Pulsatile release of LHRH and short-term pituitary desensitization to LHRH in the rat are believed to be necessary for the maintenance of LH pulsatility. In contrast, FSH release is partly induced by LHRH release and is partly LHRH-independent. This LHRH-independent release of FSH is subject to inhibitory feedback control by ovarian proteins (probably inhibin), and may obscure an LHRH-induced shortterm loss of pituitary FSH responsiveness to LHRH. The object of this study was to establish whether short-term pituitary desensitization to single doses of LHRH results not only in a loss of LH response, but also of FSH response. Ovariectomized rats were used to eliminate the influence of steroid feedback. A group of ovariectomized rats was pretreated with steroid-free bovine follicular fluid (bFF) to suppress LHRH-independent FSH release, and phenobarbital to suppress LHRH-dependent FSH release respectively, 7 and 1 h before administration of LHRH. Another group received phenobarbital only. The animals were injected sequentially with either low or high doses of LHRH (1·25 or 10 ng/100 g body weight at times 0 and at 80, 120 or 180 min, and 6·25 or 50 ng/100 g at 60 min). Blood was taken for FSH measurements before and 5 and 10 min after each injection. Rats pretreated with bFF and phenobarbital showed an acute FSH response related to the dose of injected LHRH. No dose–response curve was seen in animals which had only been pretreated with phenobarbital. A significantly attenuated FSH response to LHRH injections of 1·25 or 10 ng/100 g, given 20 min after an injection of 6·25 or 50 ng LHRH/100 g body weight respectively, was observed in animals pretreated with a combination of phenobarbital and bFF, but not in those treated with phenobarbital alone. The present results confirm that FSH release is under dual control by LHRH and ovarian secretory proteins. When both LHRH-dependent FSH release and the LHRH-independent FSH release are suppressed, short-term desensitization of FSH release to exogenous LHRH can be demonstrated. It is concluded that the phenomenon of short-term pituitary desensitization to LHRH and inhibitory ovarian proteins may both play a role in the regulation of FSH release. Journal of Endocrinology (1989) 123, 221–226