CA2+ MOBILIZATION BY THE LH RECEPTOR EXPRESSED IN XENOPUS OOCYTES INDEPENDENT OF 3', 5'-CYCLIC ADENOSINE-MONOPHOSPHATE FORMATION - EVIDENCE FOR PARALLEL ACTIVATION OF 2 SIGNALING PATHWAYS

The cDNAs encoding the murine LH receptor (LHR) and the human-beta(2)-adrenoceptor (h-beta(2)AR) were cloned and RNAs complementary to their sense strands (cRNAs) were injected into defolliculated Xenopus oocytes. This led to expression, respectively, of LH- and isoproterenol-stimulable adenylyl cyclase activities, indicating that functionally active receptor cDNAs had been cloned. In oocytes injected with LHR cRNA, but not in control or h-beta(2)AR cRNA-injected oocytes, human CG and LH increased a Ca2+-activated Cl- current, as measured by the two-micorelectrode voltage-clamp method. This effect was not seen with isoproterenol in control or h-beta(2)AR cRNA-injected oocytes, it was also not observed in response to forskolin or (Bu)2cAMP. The response to human CG could be obtained in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ but was abolished by injection of EGTA, indicating that it was caused by mobilization of Ca2+ from intracellular stores. The response was unaffected by overnight treatment with 1-mu-g/ml pertussis toxin. The experiments show that a glycoprotein hormone receptor can be expressed as a functionally active molecule in Xenopus oocytes, and that the LHR has the ability of activating two separate intracellular signaling pathways: one forming the second messenger cAMP, and the other mobilizing Ca2+ from intracellular stores. It is proposed that the latter is secondary to a primary activation of phospholipase C by the LHR, which elevates intracellular Ca2+ via intermediary elevation of inositol phosphates, presumably (1,4,5)inositol trisphosphate.