Korean J Fertil Steril.  1998 Aug;25(2):199-205.

Expression of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) Subunit Genes in the Rat Ovary

• Lee SH

Abstract

SUMMARY: The present study was performed to analyze the expression of LH genes in the rat ovary. Expression of LH subunit genes in the rat ovary was demonstrated by amplification of ovarian RNA by RT-PCR. The ovarian LHbeta transcripts contained at least two parts of the published cDNA structure, the pituitary exons 1, 2 and 3 and the part of testicular exon 1 in the major trancripts form in rat testis. Using RIA, significant amount of LH-like molecules were detected in crude ovarian extracts, and the competition curves with increasing amount of tissue extracts were parallel with those of standard peptide, indicating that the ovarian immunoreactive LH-like material is similar to authentic pituitary LH molecule. The administration of PMSG to immature rats resulted in a sharp decrease of the ovarian LH contents after 24 h post-injection. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate that genes for LH subunits are expressed in the rat ovary, and suggest that LH can play a central role in regulation of female reproduction with both endocrine (by pituitary LH) and auto- and/or para-crime (by ovarian LH) manner.

MeSH Terms

Animals
DNA, Complementary
Exons
Female
Humans
Lutein*
Luteinizing Hormone*
Ovary*
Rats*
Reproduction
RNA
Testis
Tissue Extracts
DNA, Complementary
Lutein
Luteinizing Hormone
RNA
Tissue Extracts