scholarly journals Prolactin inhibition at the end of lactation programs for a central hypothyroidism in adult rat

2008 ◽  
Vol 198 (2) ◽  
pp. 331-337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabela Teixeira Bonomo ◽  
Patrícia Cristina Lisboa ◽  
Magna Cottini Fonseca Passos ◽  
Simone Bezerra Alves ◽  
Adelina Martha Reis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Adult Life ◽  
Iodide Uptake ◽  
Adult Rats ◽  
Central Hypothyroidism ◽  
Adult Rat ◽  
Glycerophosphate Dehydrogenase ◽  
Pituitary Thyroid Axis ◽  
Serum Tsh

Malnutrition during lactation is associated with hypoprolactinemia and failure in milk production. Adult rats whose mothers were malnourished presented higher body weight and serum tri-iodothyronine (T3). Maternal hypoprolactinemia at the end of lactation caused higher body weight in adult life, suggesting an association between maternal prolactin (PRL) level and programming of the offspring's adult body weight. Here, we studied the consequences of the maternal PRL inhibition at the end of lactation by bromocriptine (BRO) injection, a dopaminergic agonist, upon serum TSH and thyroid hormones, thyroid iodide uptake, liver mitochondrial α-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (mGPD), liver and pituitary de-iodinase activities (D1 and/or D2), and in vitro post-TRH TSH release in the adult offspring. Wistar lactating rats were divided into BRO – injected with 1 mg/twice a day, daily for the last 3 days of lactation, and C – control, saline-injected with the same frequency. At 180 days of age, the offspring were injected with 125I i.p. and after 2 h, they were killed. Adult animals whose mothers were treated with BRO at the end of lactation presented lower serum TSH (−51%), T3 (−23%), and thyroxine (−21%), lower thyroid 125I uptake (−41%), liver mGPD (−55%), and pituitary D2 (−51%) activities, without changes in the in vitro post-TRH TSH release. We show that maternal PRL suppression at the end of lactation programs a hypometabolic state in adulthood, in part due to a thyroid hypofunction, caused by a central hypothyroidism, probably due to decreased TRH secretion. We suggest that PRL during lactation can regulate the hypothalamus–pituitary–thyroid axis and programs its function.

scholarly journals In vitro analysis of the origin and maintenance of O-2Aadult progenitor cells.

1992 ◽  
Vol 116 (1) ◽  
pp. 167-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Wren ◽  
G Wolswijk ◽  
M Noble
Keyword(s):  
Adult Life ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Adult Rats ◽  
Optic Nerves ◽  
Limited Life ◽  
Old Rats ◽  
Vitro Analysis

We have been studying the differing characteristics of oligodendrocyte-type-2 astrocyte (O-2A) progenitors isolated from optic nerves of perinatal and adult rats. These two cell types display striking differences in their in vitro phenotypes. In addition, the O-2Aperinatal progenitor population appears to have a limited life-span in vivo, while O-2Aadult progenitors appear to be maintained throughout life. O-2Aperinatal progenitors seem to have largely disappeared from the optic nerve by 1 mo after birth, and are not detectable in cultures derived from optic nerves of adult rats. In contrast, O-2Aadult progenitors can first be isolated from optic nerves of 7-d-old rats and are still present in optic nerves of 1-yr-old rats. These observations raise two questions: (a) From what source do O-2Aadult progenitors originate; and (b) how is the O-2Aadult progenitor population maintained in the nerve throughout life? We now provide in vitro evidence indicating that O-2Aadult progenitors are derived directly from a subpopulation of O-2Aperinatal progenitors. We also provide evidence indicating that O-2Aadult progenitors are capable of prolonged self renewal in vitro. In addition, our data suggests that the in vitro generation of oligodendrocytes from O-2Aadult progenitors occurs primarily through asymmetric division and differentiation, in contrast with the self-extinguishing pattern of symmetric division and differentiation displayed by O-2Aperinatal progenitors in vitro. We suggest that O-2Aadult progenitors express at least some properties of stem cells and thus may be able to support the generation of both differentiated progeny cells as well as their own continued replenishment throughout adult life.

Effects of hypophysectomy and subsequent FSH and testosterone treatment on inhibin production by adult rat testes

1985 ◽  
Vol 105 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. L. Au ◽  
D. M. Robertson ◽  
D. M. de Kretser
Keyword(s):  
Seminiferous Tubule ◽  
Hormonal Control ◽  
Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Adult Rats ◽  
Adult Rat ◽  
Fluid Production ◽  
Tubule Fluid

ABSTRACT The hormonal control of inhibin production by adult rat testes was investigated using an in-vitro inhibin bioassay validated for the measurement of inhibin activity in charcoal-treated rat testicular extracts. The effect of hypophysectomy examined at 16 h, 3, 7 and 42 days after surgery showed a decrease in testicular inhibin content and seminiferous tubule fluid production by 7 days and a decrease in inhibin production by 42 days. Serum FSH and LH were suppressed 3 days after surgery. In 30-day chronically hypophysectomized adult rats treated for 3 days with twice daily s.c. injections of (a) human FSH (hFSH, 22 i.u./rat per day), (b) testosterone (5 mg/rat per day), (c) hFSH + testosterone (same doses as a and b), or (d) human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG, 12 i.u./rat per day), hFSH or hFSH and testosterone stimulated an increase in testicular inhibin content but not in inhibin production or tubule fluid production. Testosterone and hCG had no effect on these parameters. It is concluded that in vivo, FSH alone stimulates an increase in testicular inhibin content. The failure to observe an increase in inhibin production in vivo is attributed to the suppression of seminiferous tubule fluid production under the same experimental conditions. J. Endocr. (1985) 105, 1–6

Selective Modulation of Tonic and Phasic Inhibitions in Dentate Gyrus Granule Cells

2002 ◽  
Vol 87 (5) ◽  
pp. 2624-2628 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zoltan Nusser ◽  
Istvan Mody
Keyword(s):  
Dentate Gyrus ◽  
Granule Cells ◽  
Cerebellar Granule Cells ◽  
Hippocampal Slices ◽  
Tonic Inhibition ◽  
Adult Rats ◽  
Adult Rat ◽  
Phasic Inhibition ◽  
The Mean

In some nerve cells, activation of GABAA receptors by GABA results in phasic and tonic conductances. Transient activation of synaptic receptors generates phasic inhibition, whereas tonic inhibition originates from GABA acting on extrasynaptic receptors, like in cerebellar granule cells, where it is thought to result from the activation of extrasynaptic GABAA receptors with a specific subunit composition (α6βxδ). Here we show that in adult rat hippocampal slices, extracellular GABA levels are sufficiently high to generate a powerful tonic inhibition in δ subunit–expressing dentate gyrus granule cells. In these cells, the mean tonic current is approximately four times larger than that produced by spontaneous synaptic currents occurring at a frequency of ∼10 Hz. Antagonizing the GABA transporter GAT-1 with NO-711 (2.5 μM) selectively enhanced tonic inhibition by 330% without affecting the phasic component. In contrast, by prolonging the decay of inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs), the benzodiazepine agonist zolpidem (0.5 μM) augmented phasic inhibition by 66%, while leaving the mean tonic conductance unchanged. These results demonstrate that a tonic GABAA receptor–mediated conductance can be recorded from dentate gyrus granule cells of adult rats in in vitro slice preparations. Furthermore, we have identified distinct pharmacological tools to selectively modify tonic and phasic inhibitions, allowing future studies to investigate their specific roles in neuronal function.

scholarly journals In vitro pituitary and testicular effects of the leptin-related synthetic peptide leptin(116-130) amide involve actions both similar to and distinct from those of the native leptin molecule in the adult rat

2000 ◽  
pp. 406-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Tena-Sempere ◽  
L Pinilla ◽  
LC Gonzalez ◽  
J Navarro ◽  
C Dieguez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Adult Male ◽  
Body Weight Gain ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Male Rat ◽  
Gh Secretion ◽  
Adult Rat ◽  
Testosterone Secretion

The obese gene (ob) product, leptin, has recently emerged as a key element in body weight homeostasis, neuroendocrine function and fertility. Identification of biologically active, readily synthesized fragments of the leptin molecule has drawn considerable attention, as they may provide a powerful tool for detailed characterization of the biological actions of leptin in different experimental settings. Recently, a fragment of mouse leptin protein comprising amino acids 116-130, termed leptin(116-130) amide, was shown to mimic the effects of the native molecule in terms of body weight gain and food intake, and to elicit LH and prolactin (PRL) secretion in vivo. As a continuation of our previous experimental work, the present study reports on the effects of leptin(116-130) amide on basal and stimulated testosterone secretion by adult rat testis in vitro. In addition, a comparison of the effects of human recombinant leptin and leptin(116-130) amide at the pituitary level on the patterns of LH, FSH, PRL and GH secretion is presented. As reported previously by our group, human recombinant leptin(10(-9)-10(-7)M) significantly inhibited both basal and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG)-stimulated testosterone secretion in vitro. Similarly, incubation of testicular tissue in the presence of increasing concentrations of leptin(116-130) amide (10(-9)-10(-5)M) resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of basal and hCG-stimulated testosterone secretion; a reduction that was significant from a dose of 10(-7)M upwards. In addition, leptin(116-130) amide, at all doses tested (10(-9)-10(-5)M), significantly decreased LH and FSH secretion by incubated hemi-pituitaries from adult male rats. In contrast, in the same experimental protocol, recombinant leptin(10(-9)-10(-7)M) was ineffective in modulating LH and FSH release. Finally, neither recombinant leptin nor leptin(116-130) amide were able to change basal PRL and GH secretion in vitro. Our results confirm the ability of leptin, acting at the testicular level, to inhibit testosterone secretion, and map the effect to a domain of the leptin molecule that lies between amino acid residues 116 and 130. In addition, we provide evidence for a direct inhibitory action of leptin(116-130) amide on pituitary LH and FSH secretion, a phenomenon not observed for the native leptin molecule, in the adult male rat.

scholarly journals Seizure-Like Events in Disinhibited Ventral Slices of Adult Rat Hippocampus

1999 ◽  
Vol 82 (5) ◽  
pp. 2130-2142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cornelius Borck ◽  
John G. R. Jefferys
Keyword(s):  
Hippocampal Neurons ◽  
Peak Frequency ◽  
Ventral Hippocampus ◽  
Synaptic Activity ◽  
Receptor Antagonists ◽  
Adult Rats ◽  
Adult Rat ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Interictal Discharges

Epileptic discharges lasting 2–90 s, were studied in vitro in slices from the ventral hippocampus of adult rats, in which inhibition was blocked acutely with bicuculline methiodide (BMI, 5–30 μM) and potassium ([K+]o) raised to 5 mM. These seizure-like events (SLEs) comprised three distinct phases, called here primary, secondary, and tertiary bursts. Primary bursts lasted 90–150 ms. Secondary bursts lasted a further 70–250 ms, comprising a short series of afterdischarges riding on the same depolarization as the primary burst. Finally a train of tertiary bursts started with a peak frequency of 5–10 Hz and could last >1 min. Slices from the ventral hippocampus showed significantly higher susceptibility to SLEs than did dorsal slices. SLEs proved sensitive to α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor antagonists. They were insensitive to N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists; 50 μl d-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (d-AP5) did block the transient secondary bursts selectively. SLEs were restricted to the hippocampus proper even if the entorhinal cortex was present. Entorhinal bursts could last <2 s and were only coupled with hippocampal bursts in a minority of slices. Reentry of epileptic bursts occasionally occurred during interictal discharges, but not during the later stages of SLEs. Full-length SLEs always started in CA3 region and could be recorded in minislices containing CA3 plus dentate hilus. Ion-sensitive microelectrodes revealed that interictal discharges were followed by short (2–3 s) [K+]o waves, peaking at ∼7.5 mM. SLEs were always accompanied by increases in [K+]oreaching ∼8.5 mM at the start of tertiary bursts; [K+]o then increased more slowly to a ceiling of 11–12 mM. After the end of each SLE, [K+]o fell back to baseline within 10–15 s. SLEs were accompanied by significant increase in synaptic activity, compared with baseline and/or interictal activity, estimated by the variance of the intracellular signal in the absence of epileptic bursts and action potentials (0.38 mV2, compared with 0.13 mV2, and 0.1 mV2, respectively). No significant increases were observed in the interval preceding spontaneous interictal activity. These studies show that focal assemblies of hippocampal neurons, without long reentrant loops, are sufficient for the generation of SLEs. We propose that a key factor in the transition from interictal activity to SLEs is an increase in axonal and terminal excitability, resulting, at least in part, from elevations in [K+]o.

scholarly journals The role of leptin in the regulation of TSH secretion in the fed state: in vivo and in vitro studies

2002 ◽  
Vol 174 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
TM Ortiga-Carvalho ◽  
KJ Oliveira ◽  
BA Soares ◽  
CC Pazos-Moura
Keyword(s):  
Fold Increase ◽  
Adult Rats ◽  
Fed State ◽  
Rat Pituitary ◽  
Pituitary Thyroid Axis ◽  
Tsh Secretion ◽  
Thyroid Axis

Leptin has been shown to stimulate the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis in fasting rodents; however, its role in thyroid axis regulation under physiological conditions is still under investigation. Here it was investigated in freely fed rats whether leptin modulates thyrotroph function in vivo and whether leptin has direct pituitary effects on TSH release. Since leptin is produced in the pituitary, the possibility was also investigated that leptin may be a local regulator of TSH release. TSH was measured by specific RIA. Freely fed adult rats 2 h after being injected with a single s.c. injection of 8 microg leptin/100 g body weight showed a 2-fold increase in serum TSH (P<0.05). Hemi-pituitary explants incubated with 10(-9) and 10(-7) M leptin for 2 h showed a reduced TSH release of 40 and 50% respectively (P<0.05). Conversely, incubation of hemi-pituitary explants with antiserum against leptin, aiming to block the action of locally produced leptin, resulted in higher TSH release (45%, P<0.05). In conclusion, also in the fed state, leptin has an acute stimulatory effect on TSH release in vivo, acting probably at the hypothalamus. However, the direct pituitary effect of leptin is inhibitory and data also provide evidence that in the rat pituitary leptin may act as an autocrine/paracrine inhibitor of TSH release.

Inhibition of Leydig cell activity in vivo and in vitro in hypothyroid rats

1995 ◽  
Vol 144 (2) ◽  
pp. 293-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
F F Antony ◽  
M M Aruldhas ◽  
R C R Udhayakumar ◽  
R R M Maran ◽  
P Govindarajulu
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Leydig Cell ◽  
Specific Activity ◽  
Cell Activity ◽  
Adult Rats ◽  
Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases ◽  
Serum Lh ◽  
Prepubertal Age

Abstract Leydig cell steroidogenic activity under basal and stimulated conditions was studied in hypothyroid rats. Hypothyroidism was induced at a prepubertal age (30 days postpartum) by surgical thyroidectomy, and l-thyroxine (T4) supplementation (6 μg/100 g body weight/day for 30 days) to hypothyroid rats was begun after 30 days. Hypothyroidism for 60 days reduced serum LH and FSH without affecting prolactin. Serum and intratesticular testosterone and the specific activity of Leydig cell 3β- and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases diminished in hypothyroid rats. The stimulatory effect of LH on Leydig cell steroidogenic activity and cAMP was also adversely affected in hypothyroid rats. All these changes were reversed by T4 supplementation. The present results suggest that prepubertal hypothyroidism suppresses both basal and stimulated Leydig cell activity in adult rats. Journal of Endocrinology (1995) 144, 293–300

Effect of theophylline on nuclear retention of oestrogen-receptor complexes: correlation with oestrogen responses

1985 ◽  
Vol 105 (3) ◽  
pp. 397-403
Author(s):  
J. Steinsapir ◽  
A. M. Rojas ◽  
M. E. Bruzzone ◽  
A. White ◽  
O. Alarcón ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Oestrogen Receptor ◽  
Nuclear Retention ◽  
Adult Rat ◽  
Receptor Complexes ◽  
Wet Weight

ABSTRACT In the ovariectomized adult rat uterine oedema induced by 0·01 and 0·1 μg oestradiol-17β/100 g body weight increased further in the presence of theophylline. Nuclear retention of oestrogen-receptor complexes also increased in response to theophylline both in vivo and in vitro. Theophylline decreased the number of eosinophils in the blood and concurrently decreased oestrogen-induced uterine eosinophilia at doses of 0·001, 0·01, 0·1, 1, 10 or 30 μg oestradiol/100 g body weight, through a mechanism independent of glucocorticoids. There was, therefore, no correlation between changes in the number of uterine eosinophils and changes in uterine wet weight induced by theophylline and oestrogen. It is suggested that the presence of oestrogen-receptor complexes in the nucleus for at least 4 h is a prerequisite for the induction of uterine oedema and growth in the presence of theophylline and oestradiol-17β. J. Endocr. (1985) 105, 397–403

Growth hormone (GH) autofeedback action in the neonatal rat: involvement of GH-releasing hormone and somatostatin

1990 ◽  
Vol 124 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. G. Cella ◽  
V. De Gennaro Colonna ◽  
V. Locatelli ◽  
V. Moiraghi ◽  
S. Loche ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Postnatal Period ◽  
Neonatal Rat ◽  
Gh Treatment ◽  
Adult Rats ◽  
Releasing Hormone ◽  
Term Administration

ABSTRACT It is known that in adult rats, GH by itself and by promoting secretion of the somatomedins acts at the level of the hypothalamus to trigger release of somatostatin and decrease output of GH-releasing hormone (GHRH), thereby inhibiting further secretion of GH. To assess whether these mechanisms are already operative in the early postnatal period, we have evaluated the effect of short-term administration of GH in 10-day-old rats. Twice-daily s.c. administration of 25 μg human GH/rat, from days 5 to 9 of life, significantly reduced pituitary content of GH, decreased hypothalamic levels of GHRH mRNA and abolished the in-vivo GH response to a challenge dose of GHRH (20 ng/100 g body weight, s.c.). GHRH (20 ng/100 g body weight, twice daily, s.c.) given concomitantly with the GH treatment, completely counteracted the inhibitory effect of the latter on pituitary content of GH and restored to normal the in-vivo GH response to the GHRH challenge. These data indicate that impaired secretion of GHRH is involved in the inhibitory effect elicited by GH treatment in infant rats. However, concomitant involvement of hypothalamic somatostatin as a result of GH treatment cannot be ruled out. In fact, pituitaries from rats pretreated with GH responded in the same manner as pituitaries from control rats to the GHRH challenge in vitro. Journal of Endocrinology (1990) 124, 199–205

scholarly journals Comparative analysis of neonatal and adult rat carotid body responses to chronic intermittent hypoxia

2008 ◽  
Vol 104 (5) ◽  
pp. 1287-1294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Pawar ◽  
Ying-Jie Peng ◽  
Frank J. Jacono ◽  
Nanduri R. Prabhakar
Keyword(s):  
Carotid Body ◽  
Intermittent Hypoxia ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Adult Life ◽  
Sensory Response ◽  
Chronic Intermittent Hypoxia ◽  
Adult Rats ◽  
Adult Rat ◽  
Carotid Bodies

Previous studies suggest that carotid body responses to long-term changes in environmental oxygen differ between neonates and adults. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that the effects of chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) on the carotid body differ between neonates and adult rats. Experiments were performed on neonatal (1–10 days) and adult (6–8 wk) males exposed either to CIH (9 episodes/h; 8 h/day) or to normoxia. Sensory activity was recorded from ex vivo carotid bodies. CIH augmented the hypoxic sensory response (HSR) in both groups. The magnitude of CIH-evoked hypoxic sensitization was significantly greater in neonates than in adults. Seventy-two episodes of CIH were sufficient to evoke hypoxic sensitization in neonates, whereas as many as 720 CIH episodes were required in adults, suggesting that neonatal carotid bodies are more sensitive to CIH than adult carotid bodies. CIH-induced hypoxic sensitization was reversed in adult rats after reexposure to 10 days of normoxia, whereas the effects of neonatal CIH persisted into adult life (2 mo). Acute intermittent hypoxia (IH) evoked sensory long-term facilitation of the carotid body activity (sensory LTF, i.e., increased baseline neural activity following acute IH) in CIH-exposed adults but not in neonates. The effects of CIH were associated with hyperplasia of glomus cells in neonatal but not in adult carotid bodies. These observations demonstrate that responses to CIH differ between neonates and adults with regard to the magnitude of sensitization of HSR, susceptibility to CIH, induction of sensory LTF, reversibility of the responses, and morphological remodeling of the chemoreceptor tissue.

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