Gonadotropin release from pituitary cultures following activation of endogenous ion channels.

In primary rat pituitary cell cultures, activation of Na+ channels resulted in Na+ and Ca2+ dependent gonadotropin release. This occurred with the same efficacy and over the same time course as that stimulated by gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH). In contrast, GnRH required extracellular Ca2+, but not Na+ for its action. These results indicate that the gonadotrope has ion channels which resemble those found in neural tissues.