PREGNANT MARE SERUM GONADOTROPHIN: RATIO OF FOLLICLE-STIMULATING HORMONE AND LUTEINIZING HORMONE ACTIVITIES MEASURED BY RADIORECEPTOR ASSAY

Abstract

SUMMARY: Specific radioreceptor assays for FSH and LH, which employ tissue receptors from rat testis and highly purified human FSH (LER 1575-C) and LH (Hartree IRC-2, 24/6/69) as standards, have been developed to determine the FSH-like and LH-like activities in pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG). Measurements of FSH and LH concentrations in the serum of six pregnant Pony mares showed that the ratio of these two activities did not vary significantly between mares and remained constant between days 40 and 80 of gestation with a value of 1·45 ± 0·04 (s.e.m.). The FSH:LH ratio of PMSG produced by cultured equine trophoblast cells was found to be 0·72 ± 0·03 (s.e.m.) and that of partially purified serum extracts of PMSG 1·08 (range 0·87–1·30).