Gonadotropin induced stimulation and desensitization of cyclic 3', 5' -adenosine monophosphate dependent protein kinase(s) in the rat ovary.

Incubation of rat ovarian slices with choriogonadotropin resulted in stimulation of cyclic AMP dependent protein kinase activity in a time and dose dependent manner. However, prior exposure of animals to choriogonadotropin in vivo resulted in a decreased sensitivity to subsequent in vitro stimulation by the same hormone. This decreased sensitivity was due to a lesion in the hormone receptor adenylate cyclase system rather than a change in the property of protein kinase with respect to its stimulation by cyclic AMP. Unchanged levels of cyclic AMP formation in these ovaries were evidenced by the lack of inhibition of [3H] cyclic AMP binding. In the untreated controls, however, choriogonadotropin in vitro resulted in inhibition [3H] cyclic AMP binding activity suggesting endogenous occupation parallel to protein kinase activation. These results are indicative of the linear coupling of hormone receptor-adenylate cyclase-protein kinase system and point out the in vivo role of protein kinase activation in choriogonadotropin mediated regulation of ovarian function.