Endocrinology, Vol 120, 1837-1845, Copyright © 1987 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Dynamic actions of arachidonic acid and protein kinase C in pituitary stimulation by gonadotropin-releasing hormone

JP Chang, J Graeter and KJ Catt

The relative contributions of arachidonic acid (AA)- and protein kinase C-dependent pathways during the immediate LH response to short term stimulation by GnRH were analyzed in perifused anterior pituitary cells cultured on Cytodex beads. The LH response to a 2-min pulse of 10 nM GnRH was biphasic, with a rapid increase to an initial peak, followed by a second peak or shoulder before the gradual return to baseline release. Retinal, which inhibits activation of protein kinase C, reduced the total LH response to GnRH by 35-40% and advanced the termination of the response, but did not alter the height, position, or rate of onset of the initial LH peak. In contrast, pretreatment with the lipoxygenase inhibitor nordihydroguaiaretic acid decreased the total LH response to GnRH by 60%, reduced the magnitude and latency of the first LH peak, and shortened the duration of the response. Pretreatment with both retinal and nordihydroguaiaretic acid abolished the GnRH-induced LH release. Addition of 2-min pulses of AA induced LH responses of short duration that coincided with the first phase of GnRH- stimulated LH release. Application of 2-min pulses of either tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA) or dioctanoyl glycerol generated LH responses with delayed onsets that corresponded to the second phase of the GnRH-induced response. The LH response to the combined action of AA and TPA approximated that induced by GnRH. These results suggest that mobilization and metabolism of AA are important in the rapid initial phase of the LH response to GnRH, and that activation of protein kinase C-dependent mechanisms participates in the maintenance of the LH response. During continuous perifusion with 10 nM GnRH, addition of 2-min pulses of 100 nM GnRH and 100 microM AA, but not 100 nM TPA, stimulated further increases in LH release. This suggests that during prolonged GnRH action, LH release is primarily maintained by protein kinase C-dependent mechanisms. The results of this study indicate that GnRH stimulation of LH release requires the coordinated actions of at least two major interrelated mechanisms, namely those activated by AA and/or its metabolites and those maintained by protein kinase C-dependent pathways.

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