Local degradation of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) in the rat central nervous system.

ABSTRACT

Peptidases inactivating luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) were found to be present in two subcellular fractions prepared from the following areas of the central nervous system of male and female rats thalamus, hypothalamus, cortex and cerebellum. LH-RH immunoreactivity was also detected in these fractions after peptidase activity had been removed by heat denaturation. These findings support the concept that LH-RH may have a role in modulating neuronal activity within the central nervous system (CNS).