Effect of Gonadal Hormones on Luteinizing Hormone in Plasma and on Choline Acetyltransferase Activity and Acetylcholine Levels in Discrete Nuclei of the Rat Brain

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Abstract

In order to assess the possible involvement of central cholinergic mechanisms in the feedback actions of gonadal hormones, the activity of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and the concentration of acetylcholine (ACh) were measured in microdissected brain nuclei of male and female rats after castration and gonadal hormone replacement. Castration of male rats significantly elevated plasma levels of LH and also increased ChAT activity and ACh level in the medial preoptic nucleus. Castration also increased ChAT activity but not ACh concentration in the posteromedial amygdala. In the rostral part of the nucleus tractus diagonalis and in the ventral tegmental area. ACh concentrations were elevated by castration, but ChAT activity was unaffected. Daily administration of testosterone propionate (TP) to castrated males attenuated the postcastration rise of plasma LH and also partially prevented the increases of ACh in the medial preoptic and rostral tractus diagonalis nuclei and of ChAT in the posteromedial amygdala. In addition, TP treatment significantly decreased ChAT acivity in the rostral nucleus tractus diagonalis. Treatment of ovariectomized female rats with estradiol benzoate lowered plasma levels of LH, but did not affect cholinergic parameters. Administration of progesterone to estrogen-primed females produced a surge in plasma LH and decreased the activity of ChAT and the concentration of ACh in the periventricular nucleus. Such treatment also reduced ChAT activity in the caudal nucleus tractus diagonalis and decreased ACh levels in the ventral tegmental area. The combined estradiol/progesterone treatment elevated ChAT activity in the supraoptic nucleus. These results demonstrate that cholinergic activity in several discrete brain regions known to be targets for testicular and ovarian hormones is altered by gonadectomy and gonadal hormone treatment and suggest involvement of cholinergic systems in the feedback effects of estadiol, progesterone and testosterone.

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Author and article information

Journal

Journal ID (publisher-id): NEN

Journal ID (nlm-ta): Neuroendocrinology

Journal ID (doi): 10.1159/issn.0028-3835

Title: Neuroendocrinology

Publisher: S. Karger AG

ISSN (Print): 0028-3835

ISSN (Electronic): 1423-0194

Publication date Subscription-year: 1980

Publication date (Print): 1980

Publication date (Electronic): 26 March 2008

Volume: 30

Issue: 6

Pages: 329-336

Affiliations

Laboratory of Clinical Science, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Md., and Department of Pharmacology, George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, D.C.

Article

Publisher ID: 123024 Other ID: Neuroendocrinology 1980;30:329–336

DOI: 10.1159/000123024

PubMed ID: 7383272

SO-VID: 83361c23-b19a-4ed9-894b-3f83c2a898b8

License:

Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug. Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.

History

Date received : 02 July 1979

Date accepted : 04 September 1979

Page count

Pages: 8

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Cited by 1

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