The effect of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone and steroids on the release of LH and FSH from incubated turkey pituitary cells.

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