Endopeptidase EC 3.4.24.15 Presence in the Rat Median Eminence and Hypophysial Portal Blood and its Modulation of the Luteinizing Hormone Surge

What is it about?

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is a decapeptide that mediates the brain control of gonadotropin secretion by the anterior pituitary gland. The gonadotropins stimulate ova production and ovulation in the female and sperm production in the male. GnRH is synthesized in nerve cells in the hypothalamus and transported to the anterior pituitary gland in small blood vessels, the hypophysial portal vessels, to the anterior pituitary gland. One of us (George Fink) together with Curtis Worthington Jr developed a method for collecting hypophysial porta vessel blood in anesthetized rodents. In they present study we found that an enzyme , endopeptidase EC 3.4.24.15 (EP24.15) , was also present in hypophysial portal blood. This enzyme, can moderate the amount of GnRH that reaches the anterior pituitary gland.

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Why is it important?

Our findings provide evidence for the existence in hypophysial portal blood that can moderate the amount of active GnRH that reaches the anterior pituitary gland.