THE EFFECT OF LUTEINIZING HORMONE-RELEASING HORMONE AND STEROIDS ON THE RELEASE OF LH AND FSH FROM INCUBATED TURKEY PITUITARY CELLS

Abstract
The secretion of immunoreactive luteinizing hormone (IR-LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (IR-FSH) by turkey pituitary cell suspensions was investigated. No significant effects of synthetic ovine luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) on gonadotropin release were found with cells from 17-19 wk old birds, though IR-LH secretion was elevated with tissue from young (13 wk) birds. Although IR-FSH secretion was increased in the presence of progesterone alone, effects of estradiol and testosterone on IR-FSH release and of estradiol, progesterone and testosterone on LH-RH release were observed when the steroid treatment was combined with that of LH-RH.