scholarly journals Atrazine-induced elevation or attenuation of the LH surge in the ovariectomized, estrogen-primed female rat: role of adrenal progesterone

Reproduction ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 146 (4) ◽  
pp. 305-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerome M Goldman ◽  
Lori K Davis ◽  
Ashley S Murr ◽  
Ralph L Cooper

Multiple exposures to the herbicide atrazine (ATRZ) were shown to suppress the LH surge in both cycling female rats and those ovariectomized (OVX) and primed with estradiol (E2). A single ATRZ administration was found to induce a prompt and marked increase in progesterone (P4). As exogenous P4 is known to have a differential effect on the LH surge depending on its temporal relationship with the surge, it was hypothesized that a single treatment in an OVX, E2-primed rat would augment the surge, whereas several exposures would cause a decrease. Following four daily treatments with 100 mg/kg, LH surge was suppressed. In contrast, a single ATRZ exposure elevated the surge. Two treatments were without effect. The single administration caused a large increase in P4 at 30 and 60 min that was likely attributable to adrenal secretion. Four exposures also elevated P4 after the final treatment, although the duration of the increase was shortened. A single treatment with 0, 10, 30, and 100 mg/kg ATRZ showed similar elevations at the highest concentration in P4, the LH peak, and area under the curve (AUC), whereas four exposures reduced the AUC. An increase at 1 h in the expression of Kiss1 in the anteroventral periventricular nucleus suggests that this regional kisspeptin neuronal population has a role in the ATRZ augmentation of the surge. These data support the hypothesis that ATRZ-induced changes in adrenal P4 can either augment or attenuate the surge depending on the temporal proximity of exposure to the rise in LH.

1995 ◽  
Vol 146 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
J A M Mattheij ◽  
J J M Swarts ◽  
P Lokerse ◽  
J T van Kampen ◽  
D Van der Heide

Abstract The pituitary-ovarian axis was studied after withdrawal of thyroid hormone in 131I-radiothyroidectomized adult female rats. Oestrous cycles became prolonged and irregular within 2 weeks after the supply of thyroid hormone was stopped. If an LH surge occurred in hypothyroid rats on the day of vaginal pro-oestrus it was significantly greater in rats which had been made hypothyroid for 4–5 weeks than in controls; in hypothyroid rats with an LH surge on pro-oestrus, plasma progesterone showed a rise similar to that in controls at pro-oestrus; the ovulation rate was decreased in hypothyroid rats. About half of the rats from which blood was sampled daily in the afternoon between 7 and 18 days after tri-iodothyronine (T3) withdrawal had 1 day of pro-oestrus; on this day the LH surge was higher than in controls. On days 2 and 1 before and days 1 and 2 after this pro-oestrus, plasma progesterone was similar to that of controls on days 2 and 1 before and days 1 and 2 after pro-oestrus respectively. However, progesterone was higher in the period before and after these days. The other hypothyroid rats showed no pro-oestrus and no LH surge during this period, while their plasma progesterone levels were high on all days. On the morning of day 10 after T3 withdrawal and 5 days after the preceding pro-oestrus, most hypothyroid rats had high progesterone and low oestradiol plasma levels. In these rats, injection of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone caused a relatively small increase in LH; it did not stimulate the secretion of oestradiol or progesterone, and it did not induce ovulation. It was concluded that hypothyroidism induces major changes in the secretion of steroids by corpora lutea and growing follicles. Whether the changed steroid metabolism is the primary cause of the observed prolongation of the oestrous cycles, the increased pro-oestrous LH surge and the reduced ovulation rate remains to be investigated. Journal of Endocrinology (1995) 146, 87–94


2001 ◽  
pp. 659-665 ◽  
Author(s):  
SN De Biasi ◽  
LI Apfelbaum ◽  
ME Apfelbaum

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this work was to study the direct effect of leptin on LH release by anterior pituitary glands from female rats at the time of spontaneous and steroid-induced LH surge. METHODS: LH responsiveness to leptin by pituitaries from rats killed in the afternoon (1500 h) at different stages of the 4-day estrous cycle (diestrus-1: D1; diestrus-2: D2; proestrus; estrus), ovariectomized (OVX; 15 days post-castration) and ovariectomized steroid-primed (OVX-E(2)/Pg; pretreated with 5 microg estradiol and 1 mg progesterone), was evaluated in vitro. Hemi-adenohypophyses were incubated in the presence of synthetic murine leptin for 3 h. RESULTS: Addition of increasing concentrations of leptin (0.1-100 nmol/l) to the incubation medium of proestrus pituitaries produced a dose-related stimulation of LH release; the maximal increase to 315% of control was obtained with 10 nmol/l leptin. Leptin (10 nmol/l) enhanced LH release at all days of the estrous cycle, the greatest response occurring in proestrus (318%) and the lowest at D1 (123%). In order to evaluate the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the action of leptin on LH release, glands from proestrus rats were incubated in the presence of 10 nmol/l leptin with or without 0.3 mmol/l N(G)-monomethyl-l-arginine (NMMA), a competitive inhibitor of NO synthase (NOS). NMMA completely suppressed the stimulation of LH release induced by leptin. Leptin also stimulated LH release by pituitaries from OVX rats, and treatment with steroid hormones led to a marked increase in the response (OVX: 162% compared with OVX-E(2)/Pg: 263%; P<0.05). For comparative analysis, a similar experimental procedure was carried out using GnRH (10 nmol/l). Leptin acts at the pituitary level in a similar manner as GnRH, although with significantly lower potency. CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm and extend previous reports regarding a direct action of leptin at the pituitary level, stimulating LH release by anterior pituitaries from female rats at the time of spontaneous and steroid-induced LH surge. In the female rat pituitary this leptin action is controlled by gonadal steroids and mediated by NO.


1980 ◽  
Vol 59 (5) ◽  
pp. 369-372 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Karpati ◽  
F. P. R. Chow ◽  
M. L. Woollard ◽  
R. A. Hutton ◽  
P. Dandona

1. Female rats were injected with ethinyloestradiol, norethisterone or both compounds for 30 days. Prostacyclin-like activity was measured in the thoracic aorta and inferior vena cava. 2. In the thoracic aorta of rats injected with ethinyloestradiol and ethinyloestradiol/norethisterone, prostacyclin-like activity was significantly increased. Norethisterone alone had no effect. 3. In the inferior vena cava of rats injected with ethinyloestradiol, norethisterone or both compounds, prostacyclin-like activity was not significantly altered. The amount of prostacyclin generated by the inferior vena cava was much lower than that by the aorta. 4. Experimentally induced changes in the vessel wall after the administration of contraceptive steroids must be due to factors other than diminished prostacyclin production.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily N Hilz ◽  
Laura A Agee ◽  
Donyun S Jun ◽  
Marie H Monfils ◽  
Hongjoo J Lee

Renewal of appetitive behavior depends on the gonadal hormonal state of the female rat. In this experiment the effect of female rat estrous cycle stage on renewal of appetitive behaviors is replicated and extended upon to understand how endogenous hormonal states around the estrous cycle drive renewal at the neuronal population level. Estrous cycle stage (i.e., proestrus (P, high hormone) or metestrus/diestrus (M/D, low hormone)) was considered during two important learning and behavioral expression windows: at extinction training and during LTM/renewal testing. First, rats in P during context-dependent extinction training but in some other stage of the estrous cycle during long-term memory and renewal testing (Different) were shown to exhibit more renewal of conditioned foodcup (but not conditioned orienting) behavior compared to rats in other estrous cycle groups. Next, cellular compartment analysis of temporal activity using fluorescence in situ hybridization (catFISH) was used to examine immediate early gene activity of Arc mRNA in neuronal populations after distinct context-stimulus exposures (i.e., extinction and acquisition test contexts). Arc mRNA expression patterns were examined in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), amygdala, hippocampus (HPC), and paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus. P-different rats showed differential neuronal population activity in the infralimbic cortex of the PFC, the lateral amygdaloid nucleus, and both CA1 and CA3 regions of the dorsal HPC. In each region P-different rats exhibited more co-expression and less specificity of Arc mRNA compared to other hormonal groups, indicating that renewal of appetitive foodcup behavior induces Arc mRNA in overlapping neuronal populations in female rats.


1971 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 517-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Wenzel

ABSTRACT With the aid of metenolon-17α-T a tritium-transfer to oestrone in rat liver slices was demonstrated. This tritium-transfer from metenolon17α-T to oestrone yielding tritium-labelled oestradiol had a higher efficiency in male than in female rat liver. Correspondingly in the presence of metenolon the relation of oestrone to oestradiol is changed more in male than in female rat liver. Looking for biochemical differences between the anabolic steroid metenolon and testosterone the oxydation at C17 was measured in different organs of the rat using 17α-T-labelled steroids. The highest oxydation rate was found for both steroids in the liver. In the sexual organs of male rats the oxydation rate of testosterone was 50–10 times higher than that of the anabolic steroid. This difference was less in sexual organs of female rats. This result of a greater biochemical difference between both steroids in males than in females leads to the question, whether the dissociation between the anabolic and the androgen effects is higher in males than in females.


1968 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 600-612 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Boyd ◽  
Donald C. Johnson

ABSTRACT The effects of various doses of testosterone propionate (TP) upon the release of luteinizing hormone (LH or ICSH) from the hypophysis of a gonadectomized male or female rat were compared. Prostate weight in hypophysectomized male parabiotic partners was used to evaluate the quantity of circulating LH. Hypophyseal LH was measured by the ovarian ascorbic acid depletion method. Males castrated when 45 days old secreted significantly more LH and had three times the amount of pituitary LH as ovariectomized females. Administration of 25 μg TP daily reduced the amount of LH in the plasma, and increased the amount in the pituitary gland, in both sexes. Treatment with 50 μg caused a further reduction in plasma LH in males, but not in females, while pituitary levels in both were equal to that of their respective controls. LH fell to the same low level in partners of males or females receiving 100 μg TP. When gonadectomized at 39 days, males and females had the same amount of plasma LH, but males had more stored hormone. Pituitary levels were unchanged from controls following treatment with 12.5, 25 or 50 μg TP daily, but plasma values dropped an equal amount in both sexes with the latter two doses. Androgenized males or females, gonadectomized when 39 days old, were very sensitive to the effects of TP and plasma LH was significantly reduced with 12.5 μg daily. Pituitary LH in androgenized males was higher than that of normal males but was reduced to normal by small amounts of TP. The amount of stored LH in androgenized females was not different from that of normal females and it was unchanged by any dose of TP tested. Results are consistent with the conclusion that the male hypothalamic-hypophyseal axis is at least as sensitive as the female axis to the negative feedback effects of TP. Androgenization increases the sensitivity to TP in both males and females.


1986 ◽  
Vol 113 (1_Suppl) ◽  
pp. S92-S93
Author(s):  
C. HIEMKE ◽  
A. SCHMIDT ◽  
R. GHRAF
Keyword(s):  

Author(s):  
Sajad Jeddi ◽  
Saeedeh Khalifi ◽  
Mahboubeh Ghanbari ◽  
Asghar Ghasemi

Background and objective: The effects of hypothyroidism during pregnancy and lactation on carbohydrate metabolism have been mostly studied in male animals. The aim of this study is therefore to investigate effect of fetal and neonatal hypothyroidism (FH and NH) on the glucose tolerance in middle-aged female rat offspring. Methods: Pregnant female rats were divided into three groups: Rats in the control group consumed tap water, while those in the FH and NH groups consumed 250 mg/L of 6-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU) in their drinking water during gestation or lactation periods, respectively. After weaning, the female offspring were separated and divided into 3 groups (n=8/group): Control, FH, and NH. Body weight was recorded monthly and intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) was performed at month 12. Results: Compared to controls, female rats in the FH group had significantly higher plasma glucose levels than controls throughout the IVGTT except at min 60. Values at min 5 of the FH and control group were 196.1±1.9 and 155.3±5.9 mg/dL, respectively (P<0.05). In the NH group, plasma glucose levels were significantly higher only at min 5 (185.7±14.1 vs. 155.3±5.9 mg/dL, P<0.05). Conclusion: Hypothyroidism during fetal or neonatal periods caused glucose intolerance in middle-aged female offspring rats.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-177
Author(s):  
Fay A. Guarraci ◽  
Chantal M.F. Gonzalez ◽  
Devon Lucero ◽  
Lourdes K. Davis ◽  
Sarah H. Meerts

Background: Aging is associated neuroendocrine changes in women. Animals can be used to model these changes, as well as changes in reproductive behavior. Objective: The current study was designed to characterize mating behavior across age and assess the effects of age and sexual history on mating behavior. Methods: Sexual motivation was assessed using the partner-preference test, in which a female rat is given the choice to interact with a same-sex conspecific or a sexually-vigorous male rat, with which she can mate. Results: Across repeated mating tests (2-12 months of age), female rats spent more time with the male, displayed more solicitation behaviors, were less likely to leave the male after mounts, but visited both stimulus animals less frequently. Comparing a separate group of age-matched, hormoneyoked female rats mated for the first time at 12 months of age to female rats mated for the first time at 2 months of age showed that the 12 month rats visited both stimulus animals less, were less likely to leave the male after mounts, took longer to return to the male after mounts, and displayed fewer solicitation behaviors than their younger counterparts. Relative to middle-aged female rats once they were sexually experienced, 12 month naïve rats spent less time with the male, were more likely to leave the male after mounts, and displayed fewer solicitation behaviors. Furthermore, 12 month naïve rats failed to discriminate between the stimulus animals, visiting both stimulus animals at the same rate unlike 2 month naïve or 12 month experienced rats. Conclusion: Taken together, these results suggest that aging affects some measures of sexual behavior, but most effects of age can be mitigated by regular, repeated mating.


Endocrinology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 157 (1) ◽  
pp. 323-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruna Kalil ◽  
Aline B. Ribeiro ◽  
Cristiane M. Leite ◽  
Ernane T. Uchôa ◽  
Ruither O. Carolino ◽  
...  

Abstract In rodents, kisspeptin neurons in the rostral periventricular area of the third ventricle (RP3V) of the preoptic area are considered to provide a major stimulatory input to the GnRH neuronal network that is responsible for triggering the preovulatory LH surge. Noradrenaline (NA) is one of the main modulators of GnRH release, and NA fibers are found in close apposition to kisspeptin neurons in the RP3V. Our objective was to interrogate the role of NA signaling in the kisspeptin control of GnRH secretion during the estradiol induced LH surge in ovariectomized rats, using prazosin, an α1-adrenergic receptor antagonist. In control rats, the estradiol-induced LH surge at 17 hours was associated with a significant increase in GnRH and kisspeptin content in the median eminence with the increase in kisspeptin preceding that of GnRH and LH. Prazosin, administered 5 and 3 hours prior to the predicted time of the LH surge truncated the LH surge and abolished the rise in GnRH and kisspeptin in the median eminence. In the preoptic area, prazosin blocked the increases in Kiss1 gene expression and kisspeptin content in association with a disruption in the expression of the clock genes, Per1 and Bmal1. Together these findings demonstrate for the first time that NA modulates kisspeptin synthesis in the RP3V through the activation of α1-adrenergic receptors prior to the initiation of the LH surge and indicate a potential role of α1-adrenergic signaling in the circadian-controlled pathway timing of the preovulatory LH surge.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document