Stimulation of Lactic Acid Production in Vitro from Prepubertal Rat Ovaries by Gonadotropins and Their Subunits1

Abstract

Lactic acid production in prepubertal rat ovaries in response to gonadotropins has been investigated by Hamberger and Ahren (1). Using highly purified hormones we have reexamined the specificity of this response and found that all gonadotropins (LH, FSH, hCG, PMSG) are active and give parallel dose response curves with the exception of PMSG. Other anterior hormones were not active. LH molecules from different species were able to stimulate lactic acid production to different degrees: ovine ≥ human > bovine. Nitration of the LH molecule was found to reduce activity. The response to hormones possessing sialic acid (hLH, oFSH, hCG and PMSG) was unaffected following treatment with neuraminidase. The subunits of LH, hCG and FSH were found to possess very low activity with the exception of FSH—β, which was as potent as native FSH. (Endocrinology92: 1022, 1973)