The LH/CG and FSH receptors: different molecular forms and intracellular traffic.

Monoclonal antibodies have been raised against the LH/CG receptor [1] and have allowed to perform immunochemical studies of the receptor in target cells. Three different forms of the LH/CG receptor are physiologically expressed: a mature approximately 85 kDa transmembrane species corresponding to the full length receptor, a approximately 68 kDa high mannose containing species corresponding to a precursor which accumulates inside the cells, and truncated soluble approximately 45-48 kDa molecular weight species corresponding to the variant messanger RNAs generated by alternative splicing. Monoclonal antibodies against the human FSH receptor were also prepared. They allow to observe the existence of two forms of the FSH receptor in the ovaries: a major approximately 87 kDa species corresponding to the mature receptor and a minor approximately 81 kDa species corresponding to a high mannose rich precursor. No variant forms of the receptor corresponding to alternative mRNA transcripts were detected. The transport of hCG was examined in rat testicular microvasculature by electron microscopy and by analyzing the transfer of radiolabeled hormone and antireceptor antibodies. LH/CG receptors were present in endothelial cells and were involved in hormone transcytosis through these cells. Immunocytochemical experiments have shown that the FSH receptor has a polarized expression in the Sertoli cells of the testes whereas the LH/Cg receptor is spread on the surface of thecal granulosa and luteal cells in the ovary and Leydig cells in the testes. To study the mechanism of this polarization FSH, LH and TSH receptors were expressed in polarized MDCK cells. The mechanism of basolateral localization and of transcytosis of the receptors was studied using this model. The effect of hormone, cAMP and agents acting on G proteins was examined.