Differences between in vitro and in vivo degradation of LHRH by rat brain and other organs.

Homogenates of brain, pituitary, liver, lung, ovary, and testes were incubated with [pyro Glu1-3,4-3H]luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone ([3H]LHRH), and the profiles of metabolites generated as a function of time were determined. After 5 min of incubation, 5 was the predominant metabolite in most homogenates. Although the profiles of metabolites varied at different time intervals, metabolites 2, 3, 4, and 5, and in some instances 7 and 9, appeared to form simultaneously and were detectable at 10 min. Neither metabolite 6 nor other larger metabolites formed initially as dominant degradation products. The findings suggest cleavage of LHRH by the simultaneous action of several endopeptidases. After a single vascular transit of [3H]LHRH, metabolites were determined in the venous blood of liver, lung, and brain of rats in vivo. There were no metabolites of [3H]LHRH in venous blood of liver and lung; however, metabolites 2-4 were present in venous blood of the brain. Incubation of rat anterior pituitary cells with [3H]LHRH yielded metabolites 1-4 but not metabolites 5 or 9 as in homogenates. Incubation of [3H]LHRH with porcine follicular granulosa cells resulted in the generation of metabolites 2-7 and 9, similar to the profile in homogenates. Thus, since homogenates contain enzymes of disrupted cells, they do not always reflect mechanisms for in vivo hydrolysis of circulating LHRH. Brain degraded 12.1% of LHRH during a single vascular transit and may account for substantial degradation of the circulating hormone.