[Effect of time in culture on the stimulatory effect of 17-beta estradiol on adenohypophyseal hormone release (author's transl)].

Secretion of LH, FSH, TSH and prolactin was studied in rat anterior pituitary cells in primary culture. Basal LH release, LH cell content and LH responsiveness to LHRH decreased with a half-life of 4 days. Basal FSH decreased only 20% up to 20 days thus indicating the relative independence of FSH secretion compared to that of LH. The stimulatory effect of 17-beta estradiol on LH and FSH secretion was higher during the first days in culture. The stimulatory effect of 17-beta estradiol on prolactin secretion did however remain maximal up to 20 days.