Influence of N-methyl-d-aspartate on the reproductive axis of male Syrian hamsters

1993 ◽  
Vol 137 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-NP ◽  
Author(s):  
H. F. Urbanski ◽  
M. M. Fahy ◽  
P. M. Collins

ABSTRACT The influence of excitatory amino acids (EAAs) on reproductive neuroendocrine function was investigated in adult male Syrian hamsters of the LSH/Ss Lak strain. Before the study, the animals were maintained in a sexually regressed condition, under short days (SD) and subsequently were either transferred to long days (LD) or kept under SD, for a further 4 weeks. In the former group, photostimulation produced a predictable elevation in the hypophysial contents and serum concentrations of FSH and LH. This was accompanied by an increase in testicular size, an elevation in serum testosterone levels and an increase in spermatogenic activity; the SD hamsters remained sexually quiescent throughout the study. In contrast, SD hamsters that were given daily injections of the EAA agonist, N-methyl-d,l-aspartate (NMA: 50 mg/kg body weight, s.c.), showed stimulatory responses that were generally even more pronounced than those shown by the LD group. Surprisingly, an identical NMA treatment paradigm failed to cause a similar activation of the reproductive axis in LD hamsters that were given daily afternoon injections of melatonin (25 μg, s.c), even though the inhibitory effect of this melatonin treatment is generally regarded as being comparable with that produced by exposure to SD. Although EAAs can acutely stimulate the neurocircuitry that controls LH-releasing hormone secretion, the present findings suggest that EAAs might also exert a long-term stimulatory action by acting further upstream in the photoneuroendocrine pathway. Journal of Endocrinology (1993) 137, 247–252

1986 ◽  
Vol 109 (2) ◽  
pp. R9-R11 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. v. Rechenberg ◽  
J. Sandow ◽  
P. Klatt

ABSTRACT Continuous administration of LH-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists is an effective method of suppressing testosterone secretion in the male. The effect of the LH-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist, buserelin, administered to bulls by constant infusion from osmotic minipumps was studied. In one experiment with four treated and one control bull, 109 pg buserelin/day were administered for 22 days. Immediately after implantation, serum testosterone concentrations rose from below 35 nmol/l to 35-105 nmol/l, and all four buserelin-infused bulls showed increased testosterone secretion during the treatment period. After removal of the minipumps, testosterone concentrations decreased to pretreatment levels. In a second experiment bulls were infused for 42 days (four treated and one control), and identical results were obtained. Testosterone secretion was stimulated (52-87 nmol/l serum) during the entire treatment period. These results demonstrate that conditions for stimulation of the pituitary-testicular axis may vary between species. Infusion of low doses of LHRH-agonists in bulls has an extended stimulatory effect without immediate desensitization of gonadotrophin release.


1981 ◽  
Vol 88 (3) ◽  
pp. 393-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. D. SCHANBACHER

An experiment was conducted to determine the importance of episodic LH secretion during pubertal development in beef bulls. Testicular growth, LH secretory patterns and serum testosterone concentrations were monitored in control bulls, and bulls implanted with one or two oestradiol-filled capsules from 26 to 38 weeks of age. Control but not oestradiol-treated bulls showed normal testicular growth and episodic LH secretory patterns. Serum LH and testosterone responses of 38-week-old control and oestradiol-treated bulls to an intravenous challenge of 5 μg LH releasing hormone indicated normal pituitary responsiveness, but steroidogenic responsiveness had not yet developed in oestradiol-treated bulls. Removal of the capsules at 38 weeks of age resulted in a normal episodic release pattern for LH, with concomitant growth of the underdeveloped testes up to 44 weeks of age. Serum concentrations of LH and testosterone were within the range of normal, adult values by 42 weeks of age. These results suggest that oestradiol can interfere with episodic LH secretion and normal pubertal development in beef bulls, and furthermore that episodic LH secretion is commensurate with the establishment of normal development of the bovine testis during puberty.


2008 ◽  
Vol 198 (2) ◽  
pp. 355-366 ◽  
Author(s):  
M P Di Yorio ◽  
M G Bilbao ◽  
M C Pustovrh ◽  
J P Prestifilippo ◽  
A G Faletti

To investigate the expression of leptin receptors (Ob-R) in the rat hypothalamus–pituitary–ovarian axis, immature rats were treated with eCG/hCG and Ob-R expression was evaluated by western blot analysis. The Ob-R expression increased 24 h after eCG administration in all the tissues assayed. In the hypothalamus, these levels immediately decreased to those obtained without treatment. In the pituitary, the Ob-R expression continued to be elevated 48 h after eCG administration, whereas the hCG injection did not modify these levels. Similar results were obtained with the ovarian long isoform. To assess the effect of leptin on its receptors, Ob-R was assessed in hypothalamus, pituitary and ovarian explants cultured in the presence or absence of leptin (0.3–500 ng/ml). In the hypothalamus, we found a biphasic effect: the Ob-R expression was either reduced or increased at low or high concentrations of leptin respectively. LH-releasing hormone secretion increased at 1 ng/ml. In the pituitary, Ob-R increased at 10 or 30 ng/ml of leptin for the long and short isoforms respectively. Leptin also induced an increase in LH release at 30 ng/ml. In the ovarian culture, the presence of leptin produced an increase in Ob-R expression at different ranges of concentrations and a dose-dependent biphasic effect on the progesterone production. In conclusion, all these results clearly suggest that leptin is able to modulate the expression of its own receptors in the reproductive axis in a differential way. Moreover, the positive or negative effect that leptin exerts on the ovulatory process may be dependent on this regulation.


1987 ◽  
Vol 115 (2) ◽  
pp. 196-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven W. J. Lamberts ◽  
Theo Verleun ◽  
Joke M. Zuiderwijk ◽  
Rob Oosterom

Abstract. The somatostatin analog SMS 201-995 was recently shown to be effective in suppressing GH secretion and in causing tumour shrinkage in patients with GH-secreting pituitary tumours. In this respect, the action of SMS 201-995 seems similar to that of the dopamine-agonist bromocriptine in patients with PRL-secreting pituitary tumours. In the present study we compared the respective effects of SMS 201-995 and bromocriptine on normal rat GH and PRL release in vivo and in vitro. Both in vitro and in vivo, repeated administration of SMS for up till 6 days suppressed circulating GH concentrations, and the ability of the pituitary glands to release GH in vitro. A dose-dependent diminution occurred of the total pituitary GH content in rats treated in vivo with SMS 201-995 for 4–6 days. During short-term in vitro incubation for only 4 h, the total amount of GH measured in the medium + gland was also diminished. Chronic administration with SMS 201-995 (2 μg/kg twice daily for 15 days), however, resulted in a complete desensitization of its inhibitory effect on GH synthesis and release. In similar experiments it was shown that the dopamine agonist bromocriptine affects normal PRL secretion in a different manner. Both in vitro (10 nmol/l) and in vivo administration for 6 days (0.2 mg/kg twice daily) greatly inhibited circulating PRL levels and the ability of the pituitary glands to release PRL in vitro. This is, however, in all instances accompanied by an accumulation of PRL within the pituitary gland. Long-term bromocriptine administration (0.2 mg/kg twice daily for 15 days) inhibited PRL secretion, and finally also a decrease in the total pituitary PRL content was observed. It is shown in this study that SMS 201-995 and bromocriptine affect hormone release by normal pituitary glands in a different manner. SMS 201-995 acutely inhibits GH release and diminishes within a few hours of exposure also the GH content in normal cells by a powerful inhibition of GH synthesis and/or an increase in intracellular degradation of GH. Bromocriptine, however, exerts primarily an inhibitory effect on PRL release, whereas an inhibition of synthesis and/or degradation of intracellular PRL is evident only after long-term exposure to the drug.


1980 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. S. McNEILLY ◽  
R. M. SHARPE ◽  
H. M. FRASER

SUMMARY To investigate the role of adrenal and gonadal steroids in the long-term suppression of gonadotrophin secretion induced by prolactin the effects of adrenalectomy or castration on the serum and pituitary levels of LH, FSH and prolactin and the hypothalamic content of LH releasing hormone (LH-RH) have been studied in adult male rats with hyper prolactinaemia produced by the transplantation of pituitary glands under the kidney capsule. Levels of LH and FSH in serum were significantly suppressed in all intact pituitary-grafted rats. Adrenalectomy on the day of pituitary implantation or 20 days later did not affect this suppression. However, castration on days 0,28 or 49 after pituitary grafting resulted in a rise in levels of FSH in serum indistinguishable from that in control rats. While the rise in levels of LH after castration on day 0 was the same as the controls, this increase was significantly reduced 2 days after castration on days 28 and 49 after pituitary grafting. Castration resulted in an increase in the pituitary content of LH and a reduction in the hypothalamic content of LH-RH but no change in the pituitary content of FSH. Hyperprolactinaemia did not appear to affect these responses. The present results showed clearly that the gonad but not the adrenal must be present for prolactin to exert an inhibitory effect on gonadotrophin secretion.


1982 ◽  
Vol 92 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. M. A. MEIJS-ROELOFS ◽  
P. KRAMER ◽  
L. GRIBLING-HEGGE

A possible role of 5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol (3α-androstanediol) in the control of FSH secretion was studied at various ages in ovariectomized rats. In the rat strain used, vaginal opening, coincident with first ovulation, generally occurs between 37 and 42 days of age. If 3α-androstanediol alone was given as an ovarian substitute, an inhibitory effect on FSH release was evident with all three doses tested (50, 100, 300 μg/100 g body wt) between 13 and 30 days of age; at 33–35 days of age only the 300 μg dose caused some inhibition of FSH release. Results were more complex if 3α-androstanediol was given in combined treatment with oestradiol and progesterone. Given with progesterone, 3α-androstanediol showed a synergistic inhibitory action on FSH release between 20 and 30 days of age. However, when 3α-androstanediol was combined with oestradiol a clear decrease in effect, as compared to the effect of oestradiol alone, was found between 20 and 30 days of age. Also the effect of combined oestradiol and progesterone treatment was greater than the effect of combined treatment with oestradiol, progesterone and 3α-androstanediol. At all ages after day 20 none of the steroid combinations tested was capable of maintaining FSH levels in ovariectomized rats similar to those in intact rats. It is concluded that 3α-androstanediol might play a role in the control of FSH secretion in the immature rat, but after day 20 the potentially inhibitory action of 3α-androstanediol on FSH secretion is limited in the presence of oestradiol.


1977 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-80
Author(s):  
H. Taguchi ◽  
Z. Abdul-Cader ◽  
J. Perry ◽  
E. H. Reynolds ◽  
I. Chanarin

1. The isolated choroid plexus of the rabbit takes up 5-methyltetrahydrofolate from the incubation medium. 2. Other folate analogues (pteroylglutamic acid, methotrexate, 5-formyltetrahydrofolate = folinic acid) inhibited the uptake of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate. 3. The uptake of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate was inhibited by low temperature, anaerobic conditions and dinitrophenol. 4. The anticonvulsant drugs, diphenylhydantoin and phenobarbital, had no effect on 5-methyltetrahydrofolate uptake. 5. The inhibitory effect of pteroylglutamic acid on the uptake of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate by the choroid plexus may explain the effect of long-term folic acid therapy in aggravating vitamin B12 neuropathy in pernicious anaemia.


1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (6) ◽  
pp. 671-676 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Gibb ◽  
Jean-Claude Lavoie

The human amnion may be an important source of prostaglandins involved in the onset of human labor and therefore it is important to define the factors that regulate their formation in this tissue. In the present study we demonstrate that glucocorticoids inhibit prostaglandin production by freshly isolated amnion cells. The inhibitory action of the glucocorticoids, however, changes to a stimulatory action when the cells are maintained in primary culture for a few days. For both inhibition and stimulation, concentrations of 10−8 M dexamethasone or greater were required to give significant effects, and estradiol and progesterone had no effect on the prostaglandin output of the cells. Epidermal growth factor (EGF), which has previously been found to stimulate prostaglandin output by confluent amnion cells, did not alter prostaglandin output of cells initially placed in culture. Furthermore, the stimulatory action of EGF and dexamethasone appeared additive. The calcium ionophore A23187 stimulated prostaglandin output in freshly isolated cells and accentuated the inhibitory effect of dexamethasone. These studies indicate that prostaglandin formation by human amnion during pregnancy could be regulated by glucocorticoids. These steroids are easily available to the amnion by way of cortisone conversion to Cortisol by the maternal decidua. The results also indicate that amnion is capable of responding to glucocorticoids in both a stimulatory and inhibitory fashion and whether one or both actions are of importance in vivo is a question that is as yet unresolved.Key words: prostaglandins, amnion, fetal membranes, glucocorticoids, labor, pregnancy.


1993 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 206-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kohei Notoya ◽  
Keiji Yoshida ◽  
Shigehisa Taketomi ◽  
Iwao Yamazaki ◽  
Masayoshi Kumegawa

1990 ◽  
Vol 122 (4) ◽  
pp. 432-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerhard F. Weinbauer ◽  
Bettina Jackwerth ◽  
Yong-Dal Yoon ◽  
Hermann M. Behre ◽  
Ching-Hei Yeung ◽  
...  

Abstract. The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of testosterone enanthate and dihydrotestosteroneenanthate were compared in orchidectomized cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) and in intact GnRH agonist-suppressed rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). Following a single im injection of 32.8 mg testosterone enanthate or 32.7 mg dihydrotestosteroneenanthate, i.e. 23.6 mg of pure steroid, in the orchidectomized cynomolgus monkeys, serum testosterone and dihydrotestosterone levels rose to 400 and 800% of baseline, respectively, within 24 h. Androgen levels remained in that range for 3-5 days followed by a continuous decline until baseline values were attained after 4-5 weeks. The areas under the testosterone- and dihydrotestosterone-curves did not differ significantly 2290±340 (dihydrotestosterone-enanthate) vs 2920±485 (testosteroneenanthate) suggesting that similar amounts of steroid had been released from the respective ester preparation. Mean half-life estimates of the terminal elimination phase were 4 and 7 days for testosterone-enanthate and dihydrotestosterone-enanthate, respectively. In a second experiment rhesus monkeys received, at 4-weekly intervals, sc implantation of a biodegradable polylactic:polyglycolide rod loaded with the GnRH agonist buserelin. The last injection was given during week 20. GnRH agonist treatment suppressed serum bioactive LH, testosterone and dihydrotestosterone levels, testicular size, sperm production, and seminal carnitine content. The ejaculatory response to electrostimulation and the masturbatory behaviour were abolished. Testosterone or dihydrotestosterone injections at the same doses as above were given in week 10, 14, 17 and 20 of GnRH agonist treatment. Serum testosterone and dihydrotestosterone levels were stimulated 9- and 4-fold, respectively. Mean half-life estimates for testosterone-enanthate and dihydrotestosterone were 5 and 7 days, respectively. Both ester preparations completely restored the ejaculatory response, ejaculate size, masturbatory behaviour, and seminal carnitine levels. In conclusion, androgen substitution with dihydrotestosterone-enanthate, in equivalent doses, is as effective as testosterone-enanthate in restoring reproductive functions in hypogonadal monkeys.


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