scholarly journals Effect of androgen on Kiss1 expression and luteinizing hormone release in female rats

2017 ◽  
Vol 233 (3) ◽  
pp. 281-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kinuyo Iwata ◽  
Yuyu Kunimura ◽  
Keisuke Matsumoto ◽  
Hitoshi Ozawa

Hyperandrogenic women have various grades of ovulatory dysfunction, which lead to infertility. The purpose of this study was to determine whether chronic exposure to androgen affects the expression of kisspeptin (ovulation and follicle development regulator) or release of luteinizing hormone (LH) in female rats. Weaned females were subcutaneously implanted with 90-day continuous-release pellets of 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and studied after 10 weeks of age. Number of Kiss1-expressing cells in both the anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPV) and arcuate nucleus (ARC) was significantly decreased in ovary-intact DHT rats. Further, an estradiol-induced LH surge was not detected in DHT rats, even though significant differences were not observed between DHT and non-DHT rats with regard to number of AVPV Kiss1-expressing cells or gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-immunoreactive (ir) cells in the presence of high estradiol. Kiss1-expressing and neurokinin B-ir cells were significantly decreased in the ARC of ovariectomized (OVX) DHT rats compared with OVX non-DHT rats; pulsatile LH secretion was also suppressed in these animals. Central injection of kisspeptin-10 or intravenous injection of a GnRH agonist did not affect the LH release in DHT rats. Notably, ARC Kiss1-expressing cells expressed androgen receptors (ARs) in female rats, whereas only a few Kiss1-expressing cells expressed ARs in the AVPV. Collectively, our results suggest excessive androgen suppresses LH surge and pulsatile LH secretion by inhibiting kisspeptin expression in the ARC and disruption at the pituitary level, whereas AVPV kisspeptin neurons appear to be directly unaffected by androgen. Hence, hyperandrogenemia may adversely affect ARC kisspeptin neurons, resulting in anovulation and menstrual irregularities.

1995 ◽  
Vol 145 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
J J Evans ◽  
S J Hurd ◽  
D R Mason

Abstract Although GnRH is believed to be the primary secretagogue for LH, oxytocin has also been shown to stimulate LH release from the anterior pituitary. We investigated the possibility that the two secretagogues interact in the modulation of LH release. Anterior pituitaries were removed from adult female rats at pro-oestrus, and tissue pieces were pre-incubated in oxytocin for 3 h prior to being stimulated with 15 min pulses of GnRH. LH output over the 1 h period from the beginning of the GnRH pulse was determined. Control incubations were carried out in the absence of oxytocin, and background secretory activities without GnRH stimulation were also determined. Tissue which was pre-exposed to oxytocin (0·012–1·25 μm) had an increased LH response to GnRH (1·25 nm). The increase was larger than the sum of the LH outputs obtained with oxytocin and GnRH separately, revealing that oxytocin synergistically enhanced LH secretion elicited by GnRH (P<0·05; ANOVA). If stimulation by GnRH was delayed for 2 h after incubation with oxytocin, an increase in LH secretion was still observed, indicating that oxytocin-induced modulation did not rapidly disappear. Oxytocin pre-incubation was observed to result in an increase of maximal GnRH-induced LH output (P<0·001; t-test), as well as an increase of intermediate responses. The LH response of the anterior pituitary to subsequent pulses of GnRH was modified by the self-priming process. The effect of oxytocin pretreatment on the response of primed tissue to GnRH was also investigated. It was found that pre-incubation in oxytocin also enhanced the LH response of primed tissue to GnRH. The study has revealed that oxytocin increases the LH output of anterior pituitary tissue in response to GnRH. The effect occurs on both GnRH-primed and unprimed tissues. The results suggest that oxytocin has the potential to regulate the dynamics of the pro-oestrous LH surge. Journal of Endocrinology (1995) 145, 113–119


1985 ◽  
Vol 109 (2) ◽  
pp. 204-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akira Miyake ◽  
Naoki Terakawa ◽  
Keiichi Tasaka ◽  
Ikuya Shimizu ◽  
Shirou Ohtsuka ◽  
...  

Abstract. The direct action of prolactin (Prl) on pituitary LH secretion was studied by examining its effect on oestradiol (E2)-induced luteinizing hormone (LH) release from the rat pituitary in a perifusion system and determining the oestrogen receptor (ER) content of the pituitary in hyperprolactinaemic female rats. When the pituitary from rats in pro-oestrus was perifused with medium alone, 10−7 m E2 significantly (P < 0.05) increased the LH concentration in the effluent by 60–130% of the basal level, but in medium containing 1 μg/ml Prl it did not cause LH release. In hyperprolactinaemic rats produced by implanting 2 anterior pituitary glands under the kidney capsule, the ER content of the cytosol of the pituitary (53.2 ± 2.9 fmol/pituitary) was significantly increased (P < 0.05), but that of the nuclei (6.8 ± 0.2 fmol/pituitary) was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) compared with the contents in rats in pro-oestrus. These data suggest that Prl has a direct suppressive effect on LH secretion from the pituitary in the rat, and that decreased translocation of ER into the nucleus might relate to impaired LH release by E2 from the pituitary of hyperprolactinaemic rats.


Endocrinology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 156 (11) ◽  
pp. 4200-4213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cleyde V. Helena ◽  
Natalia Toporikova ◽  
Bruna Kalil ◽  
Andrea M. Stathopoulos ◽  
Veronika V. Pogrebna ◽  
...  

Kisspeptin is the most potent stimulator of LH release. There are two kisspeptin neuronal populations in the rodent brain: in the anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPV) and in the arcuate nucleus. The arcuate neurons coexpress kisspeptin, neurokinin B, and dynorphin and are called KNDy neurons. Because estradiol increases kisspeptin expression in the AVPV whereas it inhibits KNDy neurons, AVPV and KNDy neurons have been postulated to mediate the positive and negative feedback effects of estradiol on LH secretion, respectively. Yet the role of KNDy neurons during the positive feedback is not clear. In this study, ovariectomized rats were microinjected bilaterally into the arcuate nucleus with a saporin-conjugated neurokinin B receptor agonist for targeted ablation of approximately 70% of KNDy neurons. In oil-treated animals, ablation of KNDy neurons impaired the rise in LH after ovariectomy and kisspeptin content in both populations. In estradiol-treated animals, KNDy ablation did not influence the negative feedback of steroids during the morning. Surprisingly, KNDy ablation increased the steroid-induced LH surges, accompanied by an increase of kisspeptin content in the AVPV. This increase seems to be due to lack of dynorphin input from KNDy neurons to the AVPV as the following: 1) microinjections of a dynorphin antagonist into the AVPV significantly increased the LH surge in estradiol-treated rats, similar to KNDy ablation, and 2) intra-AVPV microinjections of dynorphin in KNDy-ablated rats restored LH surge levels. Our results suggest that KNDy neurons provide inhibition to AVPV kisspeptin neurons through dynorphin and thus regulate the amplitude of the steroid-induced LH surges.


1987 ◽  
Vol 112 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Södersten ◽  
P. Eneroth

ABSTRACT Ovariectomy and treatment with oestradiol benzoate (10 μg OB) on the day before behavioural oestrus eliminated the preovulatory surge of LH and reduced the level of sexual receptivity on the following day. Sexual behaviour, but not the LH surge, was restored by progesterone (0·5 mg) given 18 h later. Injection of OB on the day after behavioural oestrus induced a small release of LH and normal sexual behaviour on the following day. Ovariectomy on the day after behavioural oestrus reduced the stimulatory effect of OB on sexual behaviour and eliminated its weakly stimulatory effect on LH release. Sexual behaviour, but not the small LH surge, was restored in these animals by progesterone (0·5 mg) given 18 h later. Treatment of rats ovariectomized 2 days before the day of the LH surge with implants containing oestradiol or injections of oestradiol (1 μg) induced LH surges but the amplitudes of these LH surges were much smaller than those of the normal LH surge. Treatment of intact rats with OB increased serum progesterone levels 24 h later, an effect which was eliminated by ovariectomy. Injections of LH (20 μg) into intact rats on the day after behavioural oestrus also increased serum progesterone concentrations but failed to stimulate sexual behaviour. It is suggested that OB treatment of intact rats on the day after behavioural oestrus stimulates sexual behaviour by inducing a surge of LH secretion which activates ovarian secretion of progesterone. Thus, oestrogen and progesterone but not the LH surge are essential for sexual behaviour. Whereas oestradiol and progesterone restore normal sexual behaviour in ovariectomized rats, additional ovarian factors may be required for induction of normal LH surges. J. Endocr. (1987) 112, 133–138


1983 ◽  
Vol 98 (3) ◽  
pp. 411-421 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. P. McIntosh ◽  
J. E. A. McIntosh

The effects were studied of varying the frequency, width and amplitude of pulses of gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) on the release of LH from anterior pituitary cells. Dispersed sheep cells supported in Sephadex were perifused with medium for 10 h and stimulated with different constant pulse patterns of GnRH. The timing of release of LH was measured by radioimmunoassay of the effluent fractions. Pulses of GnRH ranging in duration from 2 min every 8 min to 16 min every 128 min, and in concentration from 1·7 pmol/l to 250 nmol/l were applied to the cells, as well as continuous stimulation. Comparisons of differences between LH release patterns among samples of the same preparation of cells were used to demonstrate the effects of different GnRH stimulatory regimes. It was concluded that (1) the frequency of GnRH stimulation was important to the nature of LH release (periods shorter than about 16 min between pulses reduced LH output and caused faster desensitization of response), (2) the pulse width of GnRH input was important (the rising edge of the pulse produced greater LH output per unit of GnRH input than did continued application of GnRH within a pulse and wider pulses combined with shorter periods reduced LH output) and (3) over a threshold value of 5–10 nmol GnRH/1 pulse amplitude had little further influence on LH output or rate of desensitization in dispersed cells. These findings reinforce the hypothesis that the rising edge of the GnRH pulse is the major stimulant to LH release.


1980 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. GOGAN ◽  
I. A. BEATTIE ◽  
M. HERY ◽  
E. LAPLANTE ◽  
C. KORDON

SUMMARY Implantation of oestradiol into adult rats of both sexes induced different patterns of LH secretion depending on the time at which gonadectomy or testosterone injection were performed. Castration 2 h after birth allowed an LH peak to occur daily at 18.00 h, but its amplitude was lower than that of adult gonadectomized female rats treated with oestradiol. Castration 24 h after birth elicited two kinds of response; a circadian discharge of LH lower than that of male rats gonadectomized 2 h after birth or a steady low level of LH. The LH rhythmicity induced by implantation of oestradiol was not seen after castration at 8 weeks of age. Neonatal administration of testosterone to female rats prevented the LH peak induced by oestradiol that was seen in adult ovariectomized rats. Neonatal or adult ovariectomy did not interfere with the rhythmical response of LH after implantation of oestradiol. Thus, it is concluded that sexual differentiation of the hypothalamus is primarily of masculine origin.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xian-Hua Lin ◽  
Geffen Lass ◽  
Ling-Si Kong ◽  
Hui Wang ◽  
Xiao-Feng Li ◽  
...  

Traditionally, the anteroventral periventricular (AVPV) nucleus has been the brain area associated with luteinizing hormone (LH) surge secretion in rodents. However, the role of the other population of hypothalamic kisspeptin neurons, in the arcuate nucleus (ARC), has been less well characterized with respect to surge generation. Previous experiments have demonstrated ARC kisspeptin knockdown reduced the amplitude of LH surges, indicating that they have a role in surge amplification. The present study used an optogenetic approach to selectively stimulate ARC kisspeptin neurons and examine the effect on LH surges in mice with different hormonal administrations. LH level was monitored from 13:00 to 21:00 h, at 30-minute intervals. Intact Kiss-Cre female mice showed increased LH secretion during the stimulation period in addition to displaying a spontaneous LH surge around the time of lights off. In ovariectomized Kiss-Cre mice, optogenetic stimulation was followed by a surge-like secretion of LH immediately after the stimulation period. Ovariectomized Kiss-Cre mice with a low dose of 17β-estradiol (OVX+E) replacement displayed a surge-like increase in LH release during period of optic stimulation. No LH response to the optic stimulation was observed in OVX+E mice on the day of estradiol benzoate (EB) treatment (day 1). However, after administration of progesterone (day 2), all OVX+E+EB+P mice exhibited an LH surge during optic stimulation. A spontaneous LH surge also occurred in these mice at the expected time. Taken together, these results help to affirm the fact that ARC kisspeptin may have a novel amplificatory role in LH surge production, which is dependent on the gonadal steroid milieu.


1983 ◽  
Vol 102 (4) ◽  
pp. 499-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. D'Occhio ◽  
B. D. Schanbacher ◽  
J. E. Kinder

Abstract. The acute castrate ram (wether) was used as an experimental model to investigate the site(s) of feedback on luteinizing hormone (LH) by testosterone, dihydrotestosterone and oestradiol. At the time of castration, wethers were implanted subdermally with Silastic capsules containing either crystalline testosterone (three 30 cm capsules), dihydrotestosterone (five 30 cm capsules) or oestradiol (one 6.5 cm capsule). Blood samples were taken at 10 min intervals for 6 h 2 weeks after implantation to determine serum steroid concentrations and to characterize the patterns of LH secretion. Pituitary LH response to exogenous LRH (5 ng/kg body weight) were also determined at the same time. The steroid implants produced serum concentrations of the respective hormones which were either one-third (testosterone) or two-to-four times (dihydrotestosterone, oestradiol) the levels measured in rams at the time of castration. Non-implanted wethers showed rhythmic pulses of LH (pulse interval 40–60 min) and had elevated LH levels (16.1 ± 1.6 ng/ml; mean ± se) 2 weeks after castration. All three steroids suppressed pulsatile LH release and reduced mean LH levels (to below 3 ng/ml) and pituitary LH responses to LRH. Inhibition of pulsatile LH secretion by all three steroids indicated that testosterone as well as its androgenic and oestrogenic metabolites can inhibit the LRH pulse generator in the hypothalamus. Additional feedback on the pituitary was indicated by the dampened LH responses to exogenous LRH.


1988 ◽  
Vol 255 (4) ◽  
pp. E469-E474
Author(s):  
J. P. Kile ◽  
M. S. Amoss

It has been proposed that gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulates Ca2+ entry by activation of voltage-independent, receptor-mediated Ca2+ channels in the rat gonadotroph. Little work has been done on the role of calcium in GnRH-induced luteinizing hormone (LH) release in species other than the rat. Therefore, this study was done to compare the effects of agents that alter Ca2+ or Na+ entry on LH release from calf anterior pituitary primary cells in culture. GnRH (100 ng/ml), Ca2+ ionophore A23187 (2.5 microM), and the depolarizing agent ouabain (0.1-10 microM) all produced significant increases (P less than 0.05) in LH release; these effects were significantly reduced when the cells were preincubated with the organic Ca2+ channel blockers nifedipine (1-10 microM) and verapamil (1-10 microM) and with Co2+ (0.01-1 mM). The effect of ouabain was inhibited by tetrodotoxin (TTX; 1-10 nM) as well as by nifedipine at 0.1-10 microM. In contrast to its effect on rat pituitary LH release, TTX significantly inhibited GnRH-stimulated LH release at 1-100 nM. These results suggest that GnRH-induced LH release may employ Ca2+ as a second messenger in bovine gonadotrophs and support recent speculation that GnRH-induced Ca2+ mobilization may in part be voltage dependent.


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