Effects of Season and Sex on the Distribution of Cytosolic Estrogen Receptors Within the Brain and the Anterior Pituitary Gland of Sheep
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Geoffrey Harris, while still a medical student at Cambridge, was the first researcher (1937) to provide experimental proof for the then tentative view that the anterior pituitary gland was controlled by the CNS. The elegant studies carried out by Harris in the 1940s and early 1950s, alone and in collaboration with John Green and Dora Jacobsohn, established that this control was mediated by a neurohumoral mechanism that involved the transport by hypophysial portal vessel blood of chemical substances from the hypothalamus to the anterior pituitary gland. The neurohumoral control of anterior pituitary secretion was proved by the isolation and characterisation of the ‘chemical substances’ (mainly neuropeptides) and the finding that these substances were released into hypophysial portal blood in a manner consistent with their physiological functions. The new discipline of neuroendocrinology – the way that the brain controls endocrine glands andvice versa– revolutionised the treatment of endocrine disorders such as growth and pubertal abnormalities, infertility and hormone-dependent tumours, and it underpins our understanding of the sexual differentiation of the brain and key aspects of behaviour and mental disorder. Neuroendocrine principles are illustrated in this Thematic Review by way of Harris' major interest: hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal control. Attention is focussed on the measurement of GnRH in hypophysial portal blood and the role played by the self-priming effect of GnRH in promoting the onset of puberty and enabling the oestrogen-induced surge or pulses of GnRH to trigger the ovulatory gonadotrophin surge in humans and other spontaneously ovulating mammals.

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UPTAKE AND BINDING OF ANDROGENS BY THE ANTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND, HYPOTHALAMUS, PREOPTIC AREA AND BRAIN CORTEX OF RATS

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.0760417 ◽

1974 ◽

Vol 76 (3) ◽

pp. 417-430 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Oddvar Næss ◽

Arne Attramadal

Keyword(s):

Pituitary Gland ◽

Muscle Tissue ◽

Anterior Pituitary ◽

Brain Cortex ◽

Preoptic Area ◽

Anterior Pituitary Gland ◽

Radioactive Material ◽

Ventral Prostate ◽

Target Cells ◽

The Brain

ABSTRACT [1,2-3H] testosterone was given intramuscularly to castrated adult male and female rats. The concentration of radioactivity in the anterior pituitary gland, hypothalamus, preoptic area, brain cortex, ventral prostate and muscle tissue was measured at different time intervals. In the ventral prostate a preferential concentration and retention of radioactivity was recorded. In the anterior pituitary, hypothalamus, preoptic area and brain cortex, however, the maximum uptake was observed 7½ min after the injection of the hormone. Thereafter the radioactivity rapidly declined. Non-labelled testosterone was found to compete with the radioactive testosterone for the binding sites in the anterior pituitary, hypothalamus and preoptic area. High doses of non-labelled testosterone caused a slight, and statistically insignificant reduction of the radioactivity in the brain cortex. The concentration of radioactivity in the muscle tissue was not affected by any of the doses of non-radioactive testosterone given. Filtration of serum on Sephadex G-25 columns showed that considerable amounts of radioactivity were associated with macromolecules. Therefore in order to get a valid record of the binding of androgens to the specific molecules of the target cells, perfusion of the vascular system was essential. In vivo and in vitro experiments revealed that considerable amounts of radioactive material were bound to macromolecules in the cytosol fractions of the anterior pituitary gland, hypothalamus, preoptic area and brain cortex. Thus for the first time a binding of androgens by macromolecules in the cytosol fraction of the preoptic area and brain cortex has been found. Since association of androgens with plasma constituents can be excluded, the radioactive material is most likely bound to specific binding molecules present in the target cells of the anterior pituitary gland, hypothalamus, preoptic area and the brain cortex.

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