Relaxin Secretion by Porcine Large Luteal Cells: Effect of Protein Synthesis Inhibitors

Abstract

Abstract

The purpose of the experiments reported herein was to investigate the relative importance of new hormone synthesis to basal and prostaglandin E₂-stimulated rates of relaxin release. A relaxin-reverse hemolytic plaque assay was used to monitor relaxin release from individual large luteal cells (LLC) in which new protein synthesis was inhibited by cycloheximide or actinomycin D. These treatments significantly decreased the rate of relaxin release. In addition, cycloheximide reduced the total fraction of LLC possessing the ability to form plaques by about 10%, suggesting complete suppression of relaxin from this subset of cells. Exposure of inhibitor-treated LLC to prostaglandin E₂ (a relaxin stimulatory secretagogue) enhanced relaxin release, and restored suppressed LLC back into the secretory population. Taken overall, these results demonstrate that the majority of relaxin-releasing LLC exploit a mixture of newly synthesized and older, stored hormone to achieve basal secretion. A minority of relaxin-releasing LLC, however, appear to depend wholly on newly synthesized hormone for basal secretion. The differential activity (and interaction) of these pathways in individual LLC may provide a potential explanation for the markedly heterogenous manner of hormone release observed in this (and other) cell types, and for the action of relaxin secretagogues.