Regulation of beta-chain mRNA of ovine follicle-stimulating hormone by 17 beta-estradiol.

17 beta-Estradiol (E2) rapidly and reversibly decreases the synthesis of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in primary dispersed cell cultures of ovine pituitaries. Similarly, E2 also causes a decrease in the messenger RNA for the beta subunit of ovine FSH (FSH beta-mRNA) as measured in an in vitro translation assay. These results are consistent with the concept that E2 directly regulates either transcription of the FSH beta gene or processing of FSH beta-mRNA in sheep. Of additional interest is the observation that pituitary cultures from various species respond differently to E2 in terms of FSH synthesis. For example, E2 stimulates FSH synthesis in rat pituitary cultures, has no effect in similar rabbit cultures, and inhibits FSH synthesis in ovine cultures. Thus, a set of eukaryotic 'mutants' may exist to aid studies of the effect of E2 on FSH synthesis and secretion.