Role of protein synthesis in rabbit follicular testosterone production

Using sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis the role of protein synthesis in testosterone production by rabbit ovarian follicles was investigated. With [35S]-methionine as precursor luteinizing hormone (LH) had no apparent effect on the protein banding patterns. Cycloheximide (10 μg/ml) inhibited both LH stimulated testosterone production and the incorporation of [35S]-inethionine into the different protein bands. The effects of cycloheximide were reversible. Pretreatment of follicles for 7 h with actinomycin D before LH stimulation did not prevent testosterone production. These data are consistent with our hypothesis that a stable mRNA may regulate steroidogenesis via a labile protein factor in the rabbit ovarian follicle.