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L Birnbaumer

Publications and source records attributed to L Birnbaumer.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
PubMed1979

Guanyl nucleotide regulation of hormonally-responsive adenylyl cyclases.

A large number of hormones and neurotransmitters activate adenylyl cyclase [ATP, pyrophosphate lyase (cyclizing; EC 4.6.1.1.)] catalyzing the formation of cAMP and PPi from ATP in the presence of Mg2+. The cAMP formed is in turn responsible for eliciting the physiological responses of these hormones and neurotransmitters. In addition to hormones and neurotransmitters, fluoride ion, cholera toxin and guanyl nucleotides (GTP and GTP analogs such as GTP gamma S and GMP-P(NH)P) also stimulate adenylyl cyclase activity (Perkins, 1974; Birnbaumer, 1977; Gill, 1977). It has become evident that hormonally-responsive adenylyl cyclase is a multi-component system consisting of at least 3 physically distinct units. The first is the hormone receptor containing a specific site for a given hormone. The second is the catalytic moiety (C component) of adenylyl cyclase bearing the site responsible for catalysis of the cyclizing reaction. The third is the guanyl nucleotide regulatory subunit (G component) which binds guanyl nucleotide. Recently, a GTPase activity has been found to be associated with the G component of adenylyl cyclase (Cassel and Selinger, 1976; Cassel et al., 1977a, b; Lambert et al., 1979). In this review we will present information on the regulation of hormonally-responsive adenylyl cyclases. This is not intended to be a comprehensive review of the literature. Rather, it represents our views on the current status of the regulation of cAMP formation.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1979

Coupling of the glucagon receptor to adenylyl cyclase by GDP: evidence for two levels of regulation of adenylyl cyclase.

In rat liver plasma membranes preactivated with guanosine 5'-[beta,gamma-imido[triphosphate (GuoPP[NH]P), GDP promoted coupling of occupied glucagon receptor to adenylyl cyclase [adenylate cyclase; ATP, pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing), EC 4.6.1.1] with an apparent association constant Ka of 0.1-0.15 microM. The apparent Ka for the same effect of GTP was 0.2 microM. The effect of GDP was shown not to be due to GTP formed by putative transphosphorylation reaction(s) when ATP was present in the assay as substrate. In membranes not preactivated with GuoPP[NH]P, GDP both competitively inhibited GuoPP[NH]P stimulation of adenylyl cyclase (Ki 0.10 microM) and supported stimulation of cyclizing activity (apparent Ka 0.10 microM) by glucagon. These effects of GDP occurred in the absence of added GTP and in the absence of sufficient formation of GTP by putative transphosphorylation reaction(s) to account for them. It is concluded that two levels of regulation of liver adenylyl cyclase (cyclizing) activity must exit. One level is termed "receptor regulation"; it depends on occupancy of a receptor-related R site by nucleotide and is specific for either GDP or GTP. The second level of regulation is termed "GTPase regulation"; it is inhibited by GDP, depends on both GTP and GTPase, and accounts for activation of cyclizing activity by nonhydrolyzable analogs of GTP. The data suggest that both levels of regulation coexist and may synergize, one mediating responses to stimuli external to the cell (receptor regulation) and the other mediating stimuli of intracellular origin (GTPase regulation).

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1979

Resensitization of the desensitized follicular adenylyl cyclase system to luteinizing hormone.

LH-induced desensitization of the adenylyl cyclase system in a cell-free membrane preparation from preovulatory porcine follicles exhibits a critical dependence upon Mg and ATP (1). The membrane-rich preparation was found to contain endogenous cAMP-dependent and cAMP-independent protein kinases as well as phosphorprotein phosphatases. Endogenous phosphatase activity was enchanced by by Mn2+ and dithiothreitol. The addition of either Mn2+ or dithiothreitol to the porcine follicular membrane preparation incubated under desensitizing conditions promoted a specific concentration-dependent reversal of the LH-induced desensitization of the adenylyl cyclase system. The addition of exogenous phosphoprotein phosphatase, partially purified from procine follicular cytosol, also reversed LH-induced desensitization in a concentration-dependent manner. Boiling of the phophatase preparation prevented reversal of desensitization. The addition of either exogenous beef heart cAMP-dependent protein kinase or heat-stable protein kinase inhibitor did not modify LH-induced desensitization of the follicular adenylyl cyclase system. These results provide indirect evidence that while LH-induced desensitization is not mediated by a cAMP-dependent protein kinase, reversal of desensitization can be promoted by activation of endogenous phosphatase and the addition of a homologous phosphatase preparation.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1979

Ovarian responses of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin- and human chorionic gondotropin-primed rats: desensitizing, luteolytic, and ovulatory effects of a single dose of human chorionic gonadotropin.

We conducted a study to determine the morphological appearance and functional responsiveness of ovarian tissues after administration of hCG to 28-day-old rats primed 65 h earlier with PMS gonadotropin (PMSG) and after administration of a second dose of hCG 5 days later, i.e. to 33-day-old rats containing heavily luteinized ovaries. Sixty-five hours after the administration of 50 IU PMSG sc to 25-day-old rats, ovaries already contained an abundance of luteinized follicles and an adenylyl cyclase (AC) system that was responsive to LH, epinephrine, and NaF. The administration of 50 IU hCG sc at this time initially resulted in a loss of LH-responsive ovarian AC. Within 4 days of the hCG injection, the ovaries of the now 32-day-old rats were heavily luteinized, and ovarian AC was highly responsive to LH, epinephrine, and NaF. The administration of a single sc dose of 200 IU hCG to 33-day-old PMSC- and hCG-primed rats with luteinized ovaries resulted in a rapid desensitization of the ovarian AC to LH and a drop in serum progesterone levels, During the subsequent 7 days, serum progesterone levels continued to decline, while total ovarian AC reacquired responsiveness to LH by days 4--5 after the densensitizing dose of hCG. Dissection of ovarian components revealed, however, that the AC system of the corpora lutea originally present at the time of the second hCG injection remained permanently refractory to LH and that the AC in corpora lutea newly formed from freshly ovulated follicles exhibited a significant responsiveness to LH, epinephrine, and NaF. However, these new corpora lutea were not fully active, since serum progesterone never rose. Subcutaneous administration of 50 IU hCG to 33-day-old PMSG- and hCG-primed rats also promoted a rapid loss of AC responsiveness to LH. This lower concentration of hCG was not sufficient to promote follicular development or ovulation, and the ovarian AC remained refractory to LH for at least 7 days. Intravenous administration of 75 IU hCG to 33-day-old PMSG- and hCG-primed rats similarly promoted a rapid and permanent loss of luteal AC responsiveness to LH; again, follicles did not mature to a preovulatory state and, in fact, appeared to undergo atresia rather than ovulation. These results indicate that in heavily luteinized ovaries 1) hCG promotes desensitization of rat luteal AC to LH, 2) Desensitization of AC to LH stimulation in corpora lutea is permanent and irreversible, and 3) only under conditions where follicles mature and ovulate and new corpora lutea are formed does total ovarian AC reacqure responsiveness during the subsequent week.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1978

Cholinergic stimulation of skeletal muscle alanine and glutamine formation and release. Evidence for mediation by a nicotinic cholinergic receptor and guanosine 3':5'-monophosphate.

The mechanism of cholinergic stimulation of alanine and glutamine formation and release from skeletal muscle was studied using rat epitrochlaris preparations. The increased alanine and glutamine release produced by carbamylcholine (10(-6) M) was reproduced by tetramethylammonium (10(-6) M) but not by pilocarpine (10(-6) M) and was blocked by hexamethonium (10(-4) M) but not by atropine (10(-7) M). This increased alanine and glutamine release was not associated with altered muscle cAMP levels. However, carbamylcholine (10(-6) M) and tetramethylammonium (10(-6) M) did not increase levels of cGMP, 134% and 101%, respectively, and these increments in cGMP were blocked by hexamethonium but not by atropine. Carbamylcholine produced a concentration-dependent increase in cGMP levels. Methylisobutylxanthine and theophylline augmented the increased amino acid release and increased cGMP levels produced by carbamylcholine. Neither xanthine derivative alone altered alanine and glutamine release or cyclic nucleotide levels. Added cGMP increased amino acid release and the uptake of [U-14C]alanine and alpha-amino[14C]isobutyric acid. Carbamylcholine did not alter muscle phosphorylase a activity, glycogen levels, or basal adenylate cyclase activity. These data indicate that cholinergic stimulation of muscle alanine and glutamine formation and release involves a nicotinic cholinergic receptor and may be mediated by increased levels of cGMP, which in turn may result from a cholinergic stimulation of muscle guanylyl cyclase.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗
PubMed1977

Activation of myocardial beta-adrenoceptors by the nitrogen-free low affinity ligand 3',4'-dihydroxy-alpha-methylpropiophenone (U-0521).

The effect of 3',4'-dihydroxy-alpha-methylpropiophenone (U-0521) on the rate of spontaneously contracting cultured rat heart cells and right atria of rats and kittens was investigated. The action of U-0521 on the cellular content of cyclic AMP and on the adenylyl cyclase of heart membrane particels was also studied. 1. U-0521 caused positive chronotropic effects on single cultured heart cells and right atria of the rat. U-0521 was about 10(5) times less potent than (--)-isoprenaline. The maximum effect of U-0521 was smaller than the maximum effect of (--)-isoprenaline. A small positive chronotropic effect of U-0521 was also observed on kitten atria. 2. The beta-adrenoceptor blocker (--)-bupranolol antagonized the positive chronotropic effects of U-0521 to the same extent as the effects of (--)-isoprenaline on single cells and atria of the rat. The effects of both U-0521 and (--)-isoprenaline appear therefore mediated through the same beta-adrenoceptors. The positive chronotropic effects of U-0521 on kitten atria were also blocked by (--)-bupranolol. 3. Up to 0.1 mM U-0521 did not block the effects of (--)-isoprenaline on rat atria, not even in the presence of corticosterone or hydrocortisone. 4. 1 min incubations with equieffective (increase in cellular beating rate) concentrations of U-0521 (0.1 mM) and (--)-isoprenaline (1 nM) caused a significant increase in the cellular content of cAMP; this effect of both drugs was antagonized by 10 nM (--)-bupranolol. 5. 0.1--3.3 mM U-0521 did not stimulate the adenylyl cyclase of cell-free membrane particles of kitten ventricles. The cyclase was depressed by 10 mM U-0521. 3.3 mM U-0521 caused a 20% decrease of the maximum cyclase-stimulating effect of (--)-isoprenaline and a 1.6-fold increase of its apparent Km. 6. The results with U-0521 suggest that beta-adrenoceptors can be activated by agonists devoid of nitrogen. However, the affinity of U-0521 for the beta-adrenoceptor is very low (KU-0521 approximately 5.5 mM). The concentration of U-0521 (0.1 mM) causing maximal increases in beating rate of cultured cells probably occupies less than 7% of the available beta-adrenoceptors.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1976

Hormone-stimulated desensitization of hormone-dependent adenylyl cyclase. Dual action of luteninizing hormone on pig graafian follicle membranes.

Washed membrane particles from pig Graafian follicles larger than 6 mm in diameter were found to contain an adenylyl cyclase system that is highly responsive to luteinizing hormone (LH). Under the assay conditions used (1.5 mM ATP, 5 mM MgCl2, 1.4 mM EDTA, and 1.0 mM ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid, pH 7.0) LH stimulated enzyme activity up to 7-fold. Half-maximal activation was obtained between 3 and 6 X 10(-10) M of added LH, provided the reaction was carried out under equilibrium conditions. In contrast to findings in large follicles, adenylyl cyclase activity was found to be unresponsive to LH in small immature follicles (1 to 2 mm in diameter) and partially responsive to LH (2- to 3-fold stimulation over basal) in follicles of medium size (3 to 5 mm in diameter). Washed membrane particles from follicles larger than 6 mm were found to contain also an ATP- and Mg2+-dependent process which, upon incubation at 30 degrees, causes the adenylyl cyclase system to lose its susceptibility to respond to LH. Because this loss of LH-stimulated activity was not accompanied by a concomitant loss of basal activity, it was concluded to be the expression of a desensitization reaction. Desensitization was almost undetectable at 5 mM total added MgCl2 and required, to be readily detectable, addition of MgCl2 concentrations in excess of 10 mM. LH was found to stimulate desensitization in the presence of 1 mM cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate by diminishing the requirement for MgCl2. Loss of LH-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity was readily detectable at 5.0 mM total added MgCl2 in the presence of 10 mug per ml of LH. Half-maximal stimulation of desensitization by LH was found to occur at about 25 X 10(-10) M, i.e. at about 4 to 6 times higher concentrations than needed for half-maximal stimulation of adenylyl cyclase activity. Half-maximal LH-stimulated desensitization was obtained with 0.5 to 0.7 mM ATP in the incubation. Neither GTP, nor adenyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate, the nonphosphorylating imidodiphosphate analogue of ATP, supported the desensitization reaction, suggesting that this process may be mediated via phosphorylation of one or more of the components of the adenylyl cyclase system. LH-stimulated desensitization was detected also in washed membrane particles derived from dissected rabbit Graafian follicles, whose adenylyl cyclase becomes desensitized in vivo within minutes after human chorionic gonadotropin injection (Hunzicker-Dunn, M., and Birnbaumer, L., Endocrinology, in press), but not in membrane particles from corpora lutea of pregnant or pseudopregnant rabbits, whose adenylyl cyclase becomes desensitized in vivo only several hours or days after human chorionic gonadotropin injection (Hunzicker-Dunn, M., and Birnbaumer, L., Endocrinology, in press). It is suggested that both actions of LH (stimulation of adenylyl cyclase and stimulation of desensitization) are receptor-mediated, and that neither of them is mediated by cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate...

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1976

Desensitization of kitten atria to chronotropic, inotropic and adenylyl cyclase stimulating effects of (-)isoprenaline.

Desensitization of kitten atria with 30muM (-)isoprenaline resulted in a 6-fold and 15-fold increase in the EC50's of (-)isoprenaline for its positive chronotropic effects (sinus pacemakers) and positive inotropic effects (left atria), respectively, but only in a 2-fold increase of the EC50 of (-)isoprenaline for adenylyl cyclase stimulation in membrane particles from atria. However, maximum cyclase stimulation by (-)isoprenaline was decreased to 1/2 in membranes from (-)isoprenaline-treated atria, whereas maximum increases in rate of sinus pacemakers and force of left atria were unchanged and reduced by 15%, respectively. The high affinity beta-adrenoceptor blocker (-)bupranolol antagonized the adenylyl cyclase stimulation by (-)isoprenaline to similar extent in membranes from (-)isoprenaline and untreated atria, suggesting that the apparent affinity of beta-adrenoceptors for ligands is unchanged by desensitization. The evidence is compatible with the concept that desensitization is associated with decreased availability of receptors and with the view that near maximal positive chronotropic effects of catecholamines may be caused by only threshold increases in membrane adenylyl cyclase activity.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1976

Adenylyl cyclase activities in ovarian tissues. I. Homogenization and conditions of assay in graafian follicles and corpora lutea of rabbits, rats, and pigs: regulation by ATP, and some comparative properties.

Responsiveness of ovarian adenylyl cyclases to luteinizing hormone (LH), found to be 5 to 10-fold in cell-free preparations under optimal conditions, required gentle homogenizations and storage in sucrose-containing media. Assay conditions required the use of an ATP-regenerating system consisting of creatine kinase, creatine phosphate, and myokinase for the preservation of ATP levels. LH-stimulated adenylyl cyclase (AC) in rabbit CL showed the following properties: 1) The pH optimum of basal activity was about 8.0; that of LH-stimulated activity was about 7.5. 2) The relative response to LH was low (1.5 to 2-fold) at 0.1 mM ATP and increased with increasing ATP, but not with increasing GTP. At low (0.1 mM) ATP, GTP increased catalytic efficacy of the system, both in the absence and in the presence of LH (no effect on relative stimulation). 3) The optimal relative stimulation by LH was obtained at about 1.0 mM MgCl2 in excess of added magnesium-binding ingredients. 4) The sensitivity to stimulation by LH (about 0.2 mug/ml NIH-LH-B8) was unaffected by either pH, nucleotides (ATP and GTP), or MgCl2 concentration. 5) Under the assay conditions used, activity was stimulated by prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) about 1.5 to 2-fold, and by epinephrine about 3 to 4-fold. In all aspects tested, LH-stimulated AC in rat CL resembled that in rabbit CL, except that about 5-fold higher concentrations of NIH-LH-B8 were needed for half-maximal stimulation. The AC activity in pig Graafian follicles, however, differed from that in rabbit CL in that 1) the ATP concentration needed for optimal stimulation by LH was lower (in the micromolar rather than the millimolar range); 2) catecholamines elicited only a 1.3 to 1.4-fold stimulation; and 3) NIH-LH-B8 elicited half-maximal stimulation at 0.008 to 0.020 mug/ml. We were unable to detect LH-responsive AC activity in either homogenates or washed particles of CL from either cycling or pregnant pigs. LH fractions of three origins (human, bovine, and ovine) and of varying specific activities (from 0.041 to 2.0 NIH-LH-S18 units/mg) were tested and the relative potencies by OAAD assay were found to correlate well with the relative potencies in the adenylyl cyclase assays (rat CL, rabbit CL, and pig follicles), consistent with the possibility that AC receptors are responsible for biologic actions of LH.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1976

Adenylyl cyclase activities in ovarian tissues. II. Regulation of responsiveness to LH, FSH, and PGE1 in the rabbit.

We conducted a study to determine whether a decline in the capacity of preovulatory follicles to accumulate cAMP in response to in vitro LH exposure, reported by Marsh et al. (1), is due to direct desensitization of the LH-hCG-responsive adenylyl cyclase (AC) system. Enzyme activity was determined in the absence and in the presence of 10 mug/ml of LH, FSH, and prostaglandin (PG) E1 in homogenates prepared from Graafian follicles dissected before and at various times after rendering them preovulatory either by mating (endogenous LH release) or by injection of hCG (100 IU/3.5-4.5 g rabbit, iv). Both of these treatments resulted in desensitization of the AC to LH and FSH stimulation, so that by the time of ovulation these responses were absent. hCG-induced desensitization was rapid (50% loss of LH-stimulated activity was obtained within 5 min of injection), was dose-dependent, requiring an ovulatory dose; was selective for LH- and FSH-stimulated activity, being without effect on basal and PGE1 as well as NaF-stimulated activities; and was induced specifically by LH (mating) and hCG-FSH and PRL being without effect. Desensitization of follicular AC does not seem to be mediated by PG, for doses of indomethacin that inhibited ovulation did not interfere with the loss of LH responsiveness. The incubation in vitro of dissected Graafian (estrous) follicles with LH (2 h) also resulted in desensitization to LH stimulation and indicated that this phenomenon was due to a direct effect of LH on the follicles and was not mediated by hormones derived from other endocrine structures. Newly formed corpora lutea (CL) in either pregnancy or pseudopregnancy (PSP) developed a new AC system that was highly responsive to LH and less responsive to FSH and PGE1. This new system persisted for the duration of pregnancy and PSP, and became inactive with regression of CL. The prolongation of PSP by hysterectomy was accompanied by the persistence of an active LH-responsive AC system. The injection of ovulatory doses of hCG into 6-day PSP rabbits produced, within 2 h, a 50% desensitization of the luteal AC systems to LH stimulation. After day 10 of pregnancy, the levels of LH-stimulated AC activity in CL and the levels of progesterone in serum, reported by Challis et al. (2), were found to parallel each other, suggesting that this enzyme activity may be a physiologic regulatory step in progesterone synthesis by the normal CL throughout most of the animal's pregnancy. This finding is discussed in the light of compelling evidence that estrogens are luteotrophic in the rabbit.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1976

Adenylyl cyclase activities in ovarian tissues. III. Regulation of responsiveness to LH, FSH, and PGE1 in the prepubertal, cycling, pregnant, and pseudopregnant rat.

In the ovaries of prepubertal rats, responsiveness of adenylyl cyclase (AC) to LH, FSH, and PGE1 is acquired at day 10, coinciding with the appearance of the ability to produce steroids in response to gonadotrophins. The activity and responsiveness of AC on day 11 were similar to those at puberty on day 40 and relatively stable in between. In the follicles of the cycle, the responsiveness of AC to LH and FSH was poor (ca 2-fold stimulation) on metestrus and diestrus, and became high (ca 10-fold stimulation) between 1000 h of diestrus and 1000 h of proestrus. Thereafter, the system slowly became desensitized to LH and FSH, being unresponsive by the morning of estrus. Nembutal injected at 1230 h and again at 1500 h on proestrus blocked ovulation and prevented the decline in LH- and FSH-stimulated AC activity. In the CL of the cycle, the AC was unresponsive to LH on day 1 (estrus), became responsive by the morning of day 2 (metestrus), and maintained responsiveness throughout that day. Thereafter, the responsiveness and basal AC activity declined rapidly. In the CL of pregnancy, LH-stimulated AC was indistinguishable from that of the CL of the cycle during days 1 and 2, then increased steadily until day 9, showing a transient decrease on days 10 and 11, followed by a sharp rise to maximal activity on days 15 and 16. Thereafter, activity declined as parturition approached. In the CL of pseudopregnancy (PSP), LH-stimulated AC was very similar to that of the CL of pregnancy during the first 11 days. Thereafter, it decreased coincident with the termination of PSP. Injections of PRL (100 mug SC twice daily, from metestrus through estrus, and from proestrus through proestrus) or estradiol-17 beta (20 mug, SC at 1230 h on metestrus) resulted in "rescue" of the CL-AC system, which remained at metestrus levels when measured on the days of expected proestrus or estrus. Injections of pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin into prepubertal rats at day 26 (3 IU, iv), induced by day 28 a highly responsive AC system in follicles, with activities equivalent to those found in Graafian follicles on proestrus. By day 29, synchronous ovulation had occurred with a concomitant loss of LH-stimulated AC such as seen in the 1-day-old CL of mature rats. Our results suggest that the LH-sensitive AC may be indicative of the final development of ovulability of the follicles, and that it may correlate with the functional capacity of CL during various reproductive stages of the rat.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1976

Adenylyl cyclase activities in ovarian tissues. IV. Gonadotrophin-induced desensitization of the luteal adenylyl cyclase throughout pregnancy and pseudopregnancy in the rabbit and the rat.

We measured the adenylyl cyclase (AC) activity in dissected CL and the responsiveness of the AC system to LH, FSH, and prostaglandin (PG)E1 at different times following the administration of high doses of hCG or hLH to pseudopregnant and pregnant rats and rabbits. In rabbits, ovulatory doses of hCG promoted desensitization of the AC system in both CL of pregnancy and CL of pseudopregnancy (PSP), but at varying rates. At least a 50% decline in the LH-stimulated AC system was demonstrable 2 h after the hCG injection in CL obtained during PSP and the first 18 days of pregnancy. However, after day 21, AC activity was unaltered at 2 or 24 h after hCG injection, necessitating as much as 72 h for the AC system to become desensitized to LH. It seems that CL in the last third of pregnancy are afforded partial protection from the desensitizing effects of hCG. This protective effect was found not to be conferred upon follicles contained in ovaries after day 21 of pregnancy or upon newly, hCG-induced 3-day-old CL in 24-day pregnant rabbit ovaries. hCG-induced desensitization of CL adenylyl cyclase in rabbits was prevented neither by cauterization of tertiary follicles not by the continued administration of estradiol-17beta (1.5 mug SC twice daily), suggesting that this effect of hCG is due to a direct interaction with the CL, and not due to interruption of the follicular estrogen supply. In rats, the injection of an ovulatory dose of hCG (50 IU SC into prepubertal rats; 50 IU ip plus 50 IU SC into mature rats) also induced desensitization of the AC system in ovaries of superovulated prepubertal rats and in CL of pseudopregnant and pregnant rats. Desensitization of the AC system was not detectable at 2 h, was 30% of total by 6 h, and was complete at 24 h after hCG injection. Both regression of the CL and desensitization of the AC system in CL are induced only by doses of hCG which are ovulatory and not subovulatory. Desensitization of AC appears to precede functional luteolysis, at least in the pseudopreganant rabbit. Thus, the apparent close association between hCG-induced luteolysis and the desensitization of the adenylyl cyclase system in CL would suggest that desensitization may be a marker for luteal regression.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗