HETEROLOGOUS DOWN-MODULATION OF LUTEINIZING-HORMONE RECEPTORS BY PROLACTIN - A FLOW-CYTOMETRY STUDY

Although the binding, internalization, and regulation of LH, PRL, and their respective receptors have been extensively studied, it is not known whether the receptors are coordinately regulated. Using double labeling experiments, we have previously shown that receptor-bound LH and PRL can be colocalized in identical endosomes of granulosa cells. We hypothesize that high levels of PRL may induce a heterologous down-modulation of LH receptors, consequently reducing ovarian responsiveness to further gonadotropin stimulation. In this study we used a novel procedure to enrich endosomes containing internalized PRL and to determine whether unoccupied LH receptors were cointernalized in granulosa cells. Porcine granulosa cells were obtained from medium-sized (3-5 mm) follicles and cultured for 4 days in the presence of FSH. Fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled PRL (FITC-PRL) was used as a ligand to induce internalization of PRL receptors and as a marker to label endosomes. Granulosa cells were incubated with FITC-PRL at either 4 or 37 C for various times. At the end of the incubation, cells were trypsinized to remove surface receptors and then homogenized. The postnuclear fraction containing endosomes and other subcellular organelles was sorted using a FACStar Plus cell sorter. Results from 14 separate sorting experiments showed that 1) FITC-PRL-treated cells exhibited a sorting pattern distinct from that of FITC-BSA-treated or untreated cells; 2) excess unlabeled PRL partially shifted the sorting profile to one similar to that in controls; 3) the differences in sorting profiles were not due to free FITC; and 4) using this method, it was possible to isolate FITC-PRL-containing endosomes that were virtually devoid of other contaminating subcellular particles. Fluorescently positive (FITC-PRL-containing) organelles were collected and assayed for LH receptors using [I-125]hCG as a tracer. When the cells were incubated with FITC-PRL at 37 C for 3 h, the number of available LH receptors (as determined by [I-125]hCG binding) was 37% higher in particles containing FITC-PRL than in those devoid of FITC-PRL. If the cells were allowed to preincubate with FITC-PRL at 4 C for 10-16 h before raising the temperature to 37 C, the number of available LH receptors in FITC-PRL-containing endosomes was about 7-fold higher than that in FITC-negative endosomes. Results from this study suggest that PRL not only induces internalization of its own receptor, but also causes down-modulation of unoccupied LH receptors. This may explain, at least in part, the diminished ovarian response to gonadotropins frequently observed in transient or chronic hyperprolactinemia. Further, we endorse the use of flow cytometry in studying receptor internalization and endosomal function.