Influence of gonadotropin-releasing hormone pulse amplitude, frequency, and treatment duration on the regulation of luteinizing hormone (LH) subunit messenger ribonucleic acids and LH secretion.

The effects of GnRH pulse amplitude, frequency, and treatment duration on pituitary alpha and LH beta subunit mRNA concentrations were examined in castrate-testosterone replaced male rats. Experimental groups received iv GnRH pulses (5, 25, or 125 ng) at 7.5-, 30-, or 120-min intervals for 8, 24, or 48 h. Saline pulses were given to control rats. Acute LH secretion was measured in blood drawn before and 20 min after the last GnRH pulse. In saline controls, alpha and LH beta mRNAs (150 +/- 14, 23 +/- 2 pg cDNA bound/100 micrograms pituitary DNA) fell to 129 +/- 14 and 18 +/- 2, respectively, after 48 h. In animals receiving GnRH pulses (7.5-min intervals), the 125-ng dose stimulated a slight increase (P less than 0.01) in alpha mRNA levels after 8 and 24 h and both LH subunit mRNAs were increased by the 25- and 125-ng doses after 48 h. The 30-min pulse interval injections (25- and 125-ng doses) increased LH beta mRNA levels after 8 h, but alpha mRNAs were not elevated until after 24 h. Maximum (3-fold) increases in alpha and LH beta mRNAs were seen in rats receiving 25-ng pulses every 30 min for 48 h. Using 120-min pulses, LH subunit mRNAs were not increased by any GnRH dose through 48 h. Acute LH release was not seen in rats receiving 5 ng GnRH pulses at any pulse interval.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)