Autoregulation of testicular luteinizing hormone receptors in hypogonadal (hpg/hpg) mice

A Amador, T Parkening, W Beamer, A Bartke… - Biochemical …, 1984 - Springer
A Amador, T Parkening, W Beamer, A Bartke, TJ Collins
Biochemical genetics, 1984Springer
The autoregulation of testicular luteinizing hormone (LH) receptors was studied in
hypogonadal (hpg/hpg) and normal mice. The basal concentration of LH receptors was
more than three-fold higher in hpg/hpg than in normal mice. After injection of hCG, hpg/hpg
mice showed a decrease in LH receptor levels which was not observed in normal mice.
Plasma testosterone was undetectable in hpg/hpg mice, even after treatment with a single
dose of hCG. Plasma prolactin levels were higher in hpg/hpg than in normal mice. The …
Abstract
The autoregulation of testicular luteinizing hormone (LH) receptors was studied in hypogonadal (hpg/hpg) and normal mice. The basal concentration of LH receptors was more than three-fold higher in hpg/hpg than in normal mice. After injection of hCG, hpg/hpg mice showed a decrease in LH receptor levels which was not observed in normal mice. Plasma testosterone was undetectable in hpg/hpg mice, even after treatment with a single dose of hCG. Plasma prolactin levels were higher in hpg/hpg than in normal mice. The increase in basal LH receptor levels is thought to be due to a compensatory mechanism in which elevated prolactin could play a role. The differences between hpg/hpg and normal mice in the autoregulation of LH receptors observed could be due to the “hypersensitivity” of the physiologically immature testis in hpg/hpg mice to the action of hCG, to gonadotropin deficiency, particularly during the earlier stages of development, or to a direct effect of the hpg locus on the metabolism of LH receptors.
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