ACUTE EFFECTS OF GONADOTROPHINS AND PROSTAGLANDINS ON THE METABOLISM OF ISOLATED OVARIAN FOLLICLES FROM PMSG-TREATED IMMATURE RATS

Abstract

ABSTRACT Pre-ovulatory follicles from immature rats injected with a low dose of PMSG have been used for studies of carbohydrate and protein metabolism in vitro. The follicles were isolated by free-hand dissection and incubated in modified Krebs bicarbonate buffer for periods up to 4 h. The lactic acid content of the medium was analyzed after various incubation periods. In most experiments the tissue uptake of [14C]α-amino-isobutyric acid and [3H] leucine as well as the incorporation of [3H] leucine into follicular protein were determined. Addition of LH or FSH to the incubation medium markedly stimulated the production of lactic acid, whereas prostaglandins of the E-type were less effective. Prostaglandin F2α and dibutyryl cyclic 3′, 5′-AMP had no effect at all. No in vitro effects were seen on the uptake and incorporation af labelled amino acids. When LH or FSH was injected to the animals in vivo 1 or 2 h before incubation of the follicles, the lactic acid production was also stimulated, but only the injection of LH stimulated the protein incorporation of [3H] leucine.