Modifications of luteinizing hormone biosynthesis and release by gonadotropin-releasing hormone, cycloheximide, and actinomycin D

In the first experiment, the influence of synthetic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) on the time course of [3H]glucosamine ([3H]GA) and [14C]alanine ([14C]A) incorporation into LH by quartered rat anterior pituitary glands and the sequence of release of radiolabeled and total immunoreactive LH (IR-LH) was investigated. Radiolabeled LH was measured by immunoprecipitation and total IR-LH was measured by RIA. After lag periods of 5 and 20 min, respectively, incorporation of [14C]A and [3H]GA into tissue LH increased linearly for 4 h. GnRH stimulated incorporation of [3H]GA only. The ratio of [14C]A-LH to [3H]GA-LH (14C:3H ratio) in the tissue decreased significantly with time and with GnRH treatment. In the second experiment, replenishment of GnRH in the medium every 0.5 h elevated the release rate (release during each sequential 0.5 h) of both [3H]GA and [14C]A-labeled LH within 1.5 h. The release rate of radiolabeled LH increased linearly until 3.5 h. The 14C:3H ratio in LH released during each time interval was reduced by GnRH. The release rate of IR-LH increased linearly with time, plateaued by 1.5-3 h, and started to decline. In other experiments, cycloheximide blocked synthesis of [14C]A-LH and greatly reduced the GnRH-induced synthesis and release of [3H]GA-LH, but reduced release of IR-LH by only 25%. Actinomycin D had no effect on GnRH-induced synthesis and release of LH at 2 h, but significantly reduced both at 4 h. These data suggest that 1) the time course for the release of preexisting IR-LH differs from that for newly synthesized LH, 2) the newly synthesized LH released in response to high levels of GnRH has more sugar residues than that released under basal conditions, 3) the GnRH-induced LH release can occur under conditions in which LH synthesis has been blocked, and 4) synthesis of messenger RNA is not required for GnRH-induced LH release or short term LH synthesis but seems to be required for continued synthesis and subsequent release of LH.