Equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) is a unique molecule that elicits the response characteristics of both follicle- stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) in other species. Previous studies from this laboratory had demonstrated that recombinant eCG (rec-eCG) from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) cells exhibited both FSH- and LH-like activity in rat granulosa and Leydig cells. In this study, we analyzed receptor internalization through rec-eCGs, wild type eCG (eCGβ/α) and mutant eCG (eCGβ/αΔ56) with an N-linked oligosaccharide at Asn56 of the α-subunit. Both the rec-eCGs were obtained from CHO-K1 cells. The agonist activation of receptors was analyzed by measuring stimulation time and concentrations of rec-eCGs. Internalization values in the stably selected rat follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (rFSHR) and rat luteinizing/ chorionic gonadotropin receptor (rLH/CGR) were highest at 50 min after stimulation with 10 ng of rec-eCGβ/α. The dose-dependent response was highest when 10 ng of rec-eCGβ/α was used. The deglycosylated eCGβ/αΔ56 mutant did not enhance the agonist-stimulated internalization. We concluded that the state of activation of rFSHR and rLH/CGR could be modulated through agonist-stimulated internalization. Our results suggested that the eLH/CGRs are mostly internalized within 60 min by agonist-stimulation by rec-eCG. We also suggested that the lack of responsiveness of the deglycosylated eCGβ/ αΔ56 was likely because the site of glycosylation played a pivotal role in agonist-stimulated internalization in cells expressing rFSHR and rLH/CGR.

• Jong-Ju Park(Animal Biotechnology, Graduate School of Future Convergence Technology, Department of Animal Life Science, Institute of Genetic Engineering, Hankyong National University)
• Hun-Ki Seong(Animal Biotechnology, Graduate School of Future Convergence Technology, Department of Animal Life Science, Institute of Genetic Engineering, Hankyong National University)
• Jeong-Soo Kim(Animal Biotechnology, Graduate School of Future Convergence Technology, Department of Animal Life Science, Institute of Genetic Engineering, Hankyong National University)
• Byambaragchaa Munkhzaya(Animal Biotechnology, Graduate School of Future Convergence Technology, Department of Animal Life Science, Institute of Genetic Engineering, Hankyong National University)
• Myung-Hwa Kang(Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Hoseo University)
• Kwan-Sik Min(Animal Biotechnology, Graduate School of Future Convergence Technology, Department of Animal Life Science, Institute of Genetic Engineering, Hankyong National University) Corresponding Author