Hypothalamic inactivation of thyrotrophin-releasing hormone.

Following the demonstration of peptidases in the rat hypothalamus which inactivate thyrotrophin-releasing hormone (TRH), a sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay for the releasing hormone was used to investigate the presence of similar peptidases in the rabbit hypothalamus. TRH was found to be rapidly inactivated by supernatant and particulate hypothalamic fractions, with higher peptidase activity in the supernatant than in the particulate fraction. An optimum pH of 7.3 within physiological limits was obtained for the enzymes in both the fractions examined. The results obtained confirm that the rabbit hypothalamus contains enzymes capable of inactivating TRH, and since it has been found that such peptidases interfere with studies on TRH biosynthesis, it is possible that the peptidases may play a part in controlling the releasing hormone's production. The specificity of the antiserum used in the radioimmunoassay has also suggested that the peptidases may cleave the C-terminal-ProNH2,-NH2 or both from the TRH molecule to cause inactivation.