Kinetic evidence for two components in the priming effect of LH-releasing hormone in the rat
ABSTRACT The priming effect of LHRH on LH release from prooestrous rat hemipituitary glands in vitro was analysed by kinetic approaches. Concentration–response curves for LHRH-, K+- and ionomycin-induced LH release were constructed for initial exposure to the secretagogues and after 'priming' with a low dose of LHRH (100 pg/ml). These data were analysed by a non-linear curve-fitting programme to reveal the potency and maxima of the responses before and after priming. The parameters obtained from the curves fitted to the LHRH concentration–response curves showed that two changes had occurred as a result of priming. There was an increase in the maximum amount of hormone released and also a relatively greater ability for low concentrations of LHRH to cause release (increased potency). The data for K+ and ionomycin revealed only one change as a result of priming, an increase in the maximum amount of hormone available for release. The data indicate that LHRH, after self-priming, releases more hormone by at least two routes, one represented by a general increase in stimulus–secretion coupling (which is available to K+ and ionomycin), the other a specific up-regulation of signal transduction by the LHRH receptor–effector system. Journal of Endocrinology (1991) 129, 351–355