Expression of alpha subunit and luteinizing hormone beta genes in the ovine anterior pituitary. Estradiol suppresses accumulation of mRNAS for both alpha subunit and luteinizing hormone beta.

Bovine cDNA clones containing coding sequences for growth hormone, prolactin, alpha subunit, and luteinizing hormone beta (LH beta) have been used to quantitate their respective mRNA concentrations in anterior pituitary glands isolated from ovariectomized ewes, or from ovariectomized ewes treated for three weeks with estradiol. Concentrations of mRNAs for prolactin or growth hormone remained unchanged in either physiological state. In contrast, treatment with estradiol resulted in a 98% decrease of mRNA for LH beta, relative to untreated animals. This change in mRNA was associated with a similar decrease in the concentrations of pituitary and serum LH. Administration of estradiol also led to a reduction (86%) of alpha subunit mRNA. These results suggest that estrogen regulates the expression of the genes encoding both the alpha and LH beta subunit prior to translation. Furthermore, the pronounced effect of estradiol on the concentrations of mRNAs for alpha subunit and LH beta suggest that the assembly of mature glycoprotein hormones may not be limited solely by the rate of accumulation of the beta subunit.