Effects of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone associated peptides (GAP) on the release of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin (PRL) in vivo.

Six peptide sequences residing between basic amino acid residues in GAP were tested for effects on the release of FSH, LH and PRL in vivo in ovariectomized, estrogen-progesterone-primed (OEP) rats. Synthetic GAP peptides (1-13, 1-23, 15-23, 25-36, 38-53 and 41-53) were injected intravenously (IV) into conscious OEP rats and plasma levels of FSH, LH and PRL were measured by RIA. The activity of GAP peptides in the control of PRL was further examined in ether-stressed male rats which were injected IV with GAP peptides just prior to a 1-min etherization. GAP(1-13) significantly stimulated FSH release at doses of 1, 10 and 100 micrograms, whereas it stimulated LH release only at the highest dose of 100 micrograms. GAP(1-23) elevated plasma levels of FSH and LH only at a dose of 100 micrograms. The other 4 peptides had no effect on the release of gonadotropins. Of these 6 peptides, only GAP(1-13) partially lowered the plasma levels of PRL at the high dose of 100 micrograms in OEP rats, but it had no effect on the ether-induced PRL surge at doses of 10 and 100 micrograms. In conclusion, both GAP(1-13) and GAP(1-23) stimulate FSH and LH release in vivo; these 2 peptides are much less potent in stimulating gonadotropin release than is LHRH. GAP(1-13) exerts a preferential FSH-releasing activity, but its PRL-inhibiting activity is minimal.