We investigated the stability of the desensitized state of the human choriogonadotropin (hCG)-sensitive adenylylcyclase of the pig ovarian follicle. A 20,000 x g membrane preparation of pig follicular membranes was incubated under conditions which resulted in the hormone-induced desensitization of the hCG-responsive adenylylcyclase. The desensitized state was maintained upon subsequent incubation of the membranes with GTP, GDP, GMP, ATP, ADP, AMP, CTP, UTP, adenyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate (AMP-P(NH)P), and adenyl (beta, gamma-methylene)-diphosphonate (AMP-P(CH2)P); however, the desensitized state was reverted to a fully active state upon incubation with guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (GDP beta S) and guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S). The reversal effect of GDP beta S on hCG-responsive adenylylcyclase activity was time- and temperature-dependent, and showed a selectivity for GDP beta S over adenosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (ADP beta S) (half-maximal effective dose of 12 microM versus 260 microM, respectively). GDP beta S had no effect on the binding affinity or apparent number of luteinizing hormone (LH)/CG receptors or on the dissociation rate of 125I-hCG from the receptor. GDP beta S promoted an hCG- and time-dependent release of guanine nucleotides from the membranes. A model is proposed which accounts for the unique characteristics of LH/CG-sensitive adenylylcyclase desensitization and subsequent reactivation by GDP beta S.