HORMONAL-REGULATION OF THE TYPE-III ISOFORM OF C-KINASE IN PORCINE OVARIAN TISSUES

C-kinase activity is notably increased in corpora lutea (CL) compared to preovulatory follicles of porcine ovaries. Our purpose was to identify the C-kinase isoform(s) involved in this increase and to examine the expression of C-kinase in ovarian tissues at different stages. The major component of C-kinase activity in the CL was isoform III, with a molecular weight (M(r)) of 80,000. Minor activities were attributed to the type II isoform (M(r) = 80,000) and an unidentified C-kinase activity (M(r) = 77,000). C-kinase was not partitioned differently in preovulatory follicles and CL as demonstrated by tissue homogenization in the presence of a detergent and increased chelators. A 3-fold increase in immunoreactive C-kinase was detected in postovulatory follicles relative to preovulatory. A second, nearly 3-fold increase in C-kinase was detected in mature CL relative to postovulatory follicles. These increases are examined in the context of the complex hormonal regulation of the porcine CL.