Responsiveness of Adenylate Cyclase to Pituitary Gonadotropins and Evidence of a Hormone-Induced Desensitization in the Lizard Ovary

• Published in: General and comparative endocrinology Vol. 107; no. 1; pp. 23 - 31
• Main Authors: Borrelli, L., De Stasio, R., Bovenzi, V., Parisi, E., Filosa, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-07-1997
• Subjects: Adenylyl Cyclases - metabolism; Animals; Autoradiography; Blotting, Southern; Cell Membrane - drug effects; Cell Membrane - metabolism; Cyclic AMP - metabolism; DNA - analysis; DNA Probes - chemistry; Female; Fertility Agents, Female - pharmacology; Follicle Stimulating Hormone - genetics; Follicle Stimulating Hormone - pharmacology; Gonadotropins, Pituitary - pharmacology; Intracellular Fluid - metabolism; Lizards; Luteinizing Hormone - genetics; Luteinizing Hormone - pharmacology; Male; Ovary - cytology; Ovary - drug effects; Ovary - enzymology; Testis - metabolism
• ISSN: 0016-6480; 1095-6840
• DOI: 10.1006/gcen.1997.6893

Gonadotropins (FSH and LH) affect several mammalian gonadal functions. In particular, FSH stimulates oogonial proliferation and oocyte growth, while LH regulates ovulation and progesterone secretion. In lacertilian reptiles, gonadal function is also regulated by pituitary gonadotropins, but which hormone controls ovarian activities and the mechanisms of action are unknown. The present study aimed to clarify mechanisms of action of pituitary gonadotropins on the ovary of
Podarcis sicula(Lacertilia). The data demonstrate that mammalian gonadotropins FSH and LH produce a threefold stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity in follicular membranes, while hCG and TSH are less effective, causing a twofold increase in adenylate cyclase activity. Neurotrasmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, and catecholamines have no effect on enzyme activity. The action of mammalian FSH and LH on the ovary mimics the effect of homologous hormones: in lizard ovaries incubated
in vitroin the presence of isolated homologous pituitary glands, the intracellular cAMP level increased by 50% with respect to control ovaries. Mammalian gonadotropins appear homologous to lizard gonadotropin(s): Southern blot analyses show that the lizard genome contains nucleotide sequences homologous to those encoding for mammalian βFSH and βLH. Both homologous and heterologous desensitization of adenylate cyclase activity occurs in the lizard ovary. In fact, responsiveness of adenylate cyclase to gonadotropin stimulation is abolished in animals 2 hr after
in vivotreatment with FSH. Sensitivity to gonadotropin stimulation is restored 2 weeks after the beginning of the
in vivotreatment. Desensitization was also observed in ovaries incubated
in vitrowith mammalian FSH or with isolated pituitary glands.