Work

Sexual dimorphism in the effects of mating on the in vitro release of LHRH from the ferret mediobasal hypothalamus

Year: 1992

Type: article

Abstract: A sexually dimorphic pattern in the secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) has previously been shown to occur in response to mating in an induced ovulating species, the ferret, with mating augmenting the secretion of LH in females but not in males. The aim of this study was to determine whether this dimorphic pattern in the postcoital secretion of LH reflects a dimorphic effect of mating on the neural release of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH). The effect of mating on the in vitro release of LHRH from mediobasal hypothalami (MBH) collected from breeding male and female ferrets was studied. Luteinizing hormone releasing hormone release and content were significantly reduced in tissues from estrous females sacrificed 0.25 h after mating compared to unpaired estrous females and estrous females sacrificed 1 or 2.6 h after the mating stimulus. By contrast, the release of LHRH from MBH fragments and LHRH tissue content were equivalent in breeding males that were sacrificed 0.25 h after mating and in breeding males that were left unpaired. These data suggest that the postcoital surge of LH in the female ferret is preceded by a release of LHRH that initially depletes neuronal terminals within the MBH, whereas LHRH release, like pituitary LH secretion, is minimally affected by mating in males.

Source: Physiology & Behavior

DOI: 10.1016/0031-9384(92)90418-2

Authors: G.M. Lambert, B.S. Rubin, M.J. Baum

Institutions: Boston University, Tufts University

Language: English

Topic: Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones

Subfield: Reproductive Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,500

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development