Abstract
Changes in the immunoreactivity of pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH) cells and in their fine structure were studied in 4-day-cyclic female rats along with the radioimmunoassay of pituitary and serum LH.
Pituitary LH increased during diestrus (DE) and in early proestrus (PE) to a maximal level at noon of PE, followed by a marked decrease by 2100h PE. Serum LH stayed at low levels in estrus (E) and in DE, while they displayed a significant increase at PE. Light microscopic immunocytochemistry distinguished intensely and weakly stained cells using rat LHβ antiserum. The populations of intensely stained cells were 80% at PE, 30% at E and 75% at DE. This suggests that all of the LH cells do not secrete LH Synchronously on the afternoon of PE. Immunoreactivity of LH cells was related to the amount of secretory granules stored in the cells as determined by the superimposition technique. Analysis of the LH storage site by the protein A-gold method confirmed that the small secretory granules, which accumulated in LH cells at DE or PE, certainly contain LH. At least two LH cell types were distinguished: one is the oval or polygonal cell with flattened rER numerous mitochondria, abundant small secretory granules (about 200nm), a well deveoped Golgi complex, and a round nucleus. The other has similar structural characteristics along with large secretory granules which are more than 300nm in diameter. At noon of PE almost all of the LH cells were the first type while the second ones were mainly found at DE or E. The relationship of these LH cell types to the male gonadotrophs is discussed.
