Effect of neonatal androgenization on the LHRH response of dispersed pituitary cell cultures

To determine if neonatal androgenization affects pituitary luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) response, female rats were androgenized 24-48 hr following birth. Intact male and female litter mates were maintained for comparison. At 83 days of age, randomly selected males and androgenized females were gonadectomized. At 90 days of age, pituitary cell cultures were begun. On day 3 the cells were challenged with LHRH. Gonadotropin response was determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Basal gonadotropin release from androgenized female cells was similar to male cells, while the pattern and magnitude of the LHRH response was similar to intact female cells. After castration, the pattern and magnitude of the LHRH response of the androgenized female pituitary was most like the male. Androgenized female cells exhibited mixed male and female LHRH response.