The pattern of replenishment of LH secretory granule stores in sheep pituitary gonadotrophs, after an induced LH surge, was determined by immunogold localisation at the ultrastructural level by electron microscopy. Twenty-four Welsh Mountain ewes were initially synchronised with progestagen devices for 14 days before luteolysis was induced by a prostaglandin F(2 alpha) analogue, cloprostenol. A further 24 h later, a preovulatory LH surge was induced by intravenous injection of a GnRH agonist, buserelin. Animals were divided into four groups (n=6) and blood sampled at 2 h intervals from 4 h prior, to 18 h after, buserelin administration and then at infrequent intervals (1 to 8 h) thereafter until death. Pulse profiles of LH were also obtained by an additional collection of blood samples within a 6 h window directly preceding death. Groups of animals were killed at 24, 48, 72 or 96 h after buserelin treatment. Pituitaries were dissected and processed for transmission electron microscopy and frozen for later molecular biological analysis. A characteristic preovulatory surge of LH was observed in all animals. The cytoplasm of gonadotrophs, in animals killed 24 h after buserelin treatment, was completely empty of secretory granules. This was associated with diminutive pituitary LH content, low pituitary GnRH binding levels and an almost complete absence (one pulse in one animal) of LH pulsatile secretion. Despite the lack of apparent secretory activity, clusters of exposed LH beta label present within the cytoplasm at this time and constant LHbeta mRNA expression levels irrespective of tissue collection time, suggest that the cell is actively synthesising LHbeta. The formation of sparse numbers of small LH beta immuno-labelled electron-dense secretory granules was apparent at 48 h after buserelin treatment, and replenishment of LH beta immuno-labelled granule stores continued until total granule numbers had increased two-fold (P<0.01) by 96 h post-treatment. Affiliated with granule replenishment was a significant increase in pituitary LH content (P<0.01), pituitary GnRH binding levels (P<0.01) and the restoration of LH pulsatile secretion. Despite the replenishment of granule stores with time, cytoplasmic area did not vary. These results suggest that restoration of pulsatile LH secretion after a preovulatory LH surge is related to replenishment of LH beta secretory granule stores and an increase in GnRH binding levels.

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