Activation of MAP kinase associated with the priming effect of LHRH

A MAP kinase activity assay was developed to determine whether the LHRH receptor could activate this enzyme (particularly during LHRH priming). In anterior pituitary tissue from prooestrous rats LHRH caused concentration-dependent activation of MAP kinase after 5-10 min and continued for up to 60 min of incubation. The magnitude of this response correlated with that of LHRH priming on various days of the oestrous cycle but not with the magnitude of 1st hour (unprimed) LHRH-induced LH release. The response to LHRH was mimicked by a phorbol ester but not by ionomycin and was blocked with high potency by GF 109203X but not by H7 (in a similar manner to the PKC species that mediates LHRH priming). Neither the tyrosine kinase inhibitor lavendustin A nor the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide blocked LHRH-induced MAP kinase activation. The possible functional significance of MAP kinase activation in gonadotrophs is considered with respect to LHRH priming.