A role for cyclic AMP as a mediator of the action of LH-RH on chicken anterior pituitary cells

Chicken anterior pituitary cells isolated by trypsin digestion and gentle mechanical dispersion were used to study the mechanism of action of LH-RH. Following stimulation with LH-RH, LH was released from the cells in a dose-related fashion. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP at a concentration of 1 mM provoked a minimum release of LH but cyclic AMP at concentrations of 1 mM and 10 mM was ineffective. Both nucleotides, however, markedly enhanced the response of the cells to LH-RH. Furthermore antiphosphodiesterase compounds stimulated a release ofLH but imidazole had an inhibitory action. These results are consistent with much of the data available for the rat indicating that the mechanism of action of LH-RH is similar in both species.