Pituitary responsiveness to GHRH (1-29) NH2 (GHRH, 5 \g=m\g/kg iv) was analysed under sodium pentobarbital anesthesia (50 mg/kg ip), on days 30 and 90 in male rats orchidectomized or sham-operated 7 days earlier. Other groups of rats were orchidectomized or sham-

Androgens have a profound effect on the hypothalamicpituitary axis by reducing the synthesis and release of the pituitary gonadotropin LH. The effect on LH is partly a consequence of a direct, steroid-dependent action on pituitary function. Although androgen action has been well studied in vivo, in vitro cell models of androgen action on pituitary gonadotropes have been scarce. Recently, an LH-expressing cell line, L T2, was generated by tumorigenesis targeted to the LH-producing cells of the mouse pituitary. The purpose of these studies was to determine the presence of androgen receptor (AR) and establish its function in this cell line. RT-PCR analysis indicated that the L T2 cell line expresses AR mRNA. Transient transfection assays, using the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) promoter, showed that a functional AR is also present. Testosterone (TEST), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), 7 -methyl-19-nortestosterone (MENT), and fluoxymesterone (FLUOXY) increased reporter gene activity in the rank order of potencies MENT>DHT> TEST>FLUOXY. Additionally, activation of MMTV promoter activity by DHT in L T2 cells was diminished by the AR antagonists casodex and 2-hydroxy-flutamide, indicating that the effects of DHT are mediated through AR. In summary, these studies showed that the L T2 cell line is a useful model for the evaluation and molecular characterization of androgen action in pituitary gonadotropes.

Many reports indicate that prolactin has a role in puberty occurrence. The present study was developed to evaluate the action of pituitary grafts on puberty. Female rats grafted on day 21 with ‘adult’ (90 days old) or ‘young’ (21 days old) pituitaries showed precocious vaginal opening and first estrus. The puberty advancement induced by ‘adult’ transplants was due to an increase in plasma prolactin values and can be blocked by bromocriptine treatment. The puberty advancement induced by ‘young’ transplants was not associated with increased prolactin levels and cannot be blocked by bromocriptine. These results suggest the existence of two possible mechanisms in precocious puberty induced by pituitary grafts: a prolactin-dependent one and another one not directly related with prolactin.

To analyze a possible direct action of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) at pituitary level in GH secretion, two experimental models were used: hypophysectomized autografted rats and perifused pituitaries. Adult male rats were hypophysectomized and their own pituitaries placed under the right kidney capsule. Ten days later an intra-atrial cannula was inserted. The next day, blood samples were obtained before and every 10 min during a 2 h period after the injection of saline or 5-hydroxytryptamin (1 or 2 mg/kg iv). Plasma volume was replaced with saline. Both doses of 5\ x=r eq-\ hydroxytryptamine elicit a strong release of GH, the effect being dose-dependent. In pituitaries perifused with 5-hydroxytryptamine (100 \g=m\mduring 115 min or 1, 10 and 100 \g=m\mduring 15 min), a significant release of GH was also observed. These results suggested that 5-hydroxytryptamine may stimulate GH secretion through a direct pituitary action.

No abstract