LSH and FSH autonomous secretion in long-term pituitary tissue culture.

Pituitary tissue from 2- to 6-day-old male rats was cultivated for up to 136 days in medium containing fetal bovine serum, but without added steroid or hypothalamic extracts. After 40 to 70 days of sustained release of LH and FSH at a very low level, there was an increase in the quantity of both, and a plateau of depressed secretion. LH was identified by immunoreactivity in two radioimmunological systems and in gel chromatography. Little, if any, alpha-subunits were liberated in these cultures. It is concluded that basal production of LH and FSH is a constitutive activity of the gonadotropic cell.