Ca2+ signal generation in gonadotropes (A18)

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Gonadotropes in the anterior pituitary gland control mammalian reproduction. We show that female murine gonadotropes display spontaneous [Ca2+]i oscillations during the luteinizing hormone surge, which triggers ovulation. The [Ca2+]i signals arise through cyclic transformation of these cells into a readily excitable state before ovulation and depend on voltage-gated Ca2+ channels, which are upregulated prior to the LH surge. In the next funding period, we want to dissect the molecular mechanisms underlying cyclic transformation of gonadotropes, extend our analyses of the gonadotrope cell network and investigate intraorganellar Ca2+ dynamics and hormone release in these cells.