Effects of a major androgen-dependent urinary protein, alpha 2u-globulin on the pituitary-gonadal axis and hypothalamic monoamines in adult male mice.
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of alpha-2u-globulin, a sex-dependent male rat urinary protein on pituitary-gonadal functions and hypothalamic monoamine contents in male mice. Adult male mice, maintained under standardized laboratory conditions (L:D, 14:10) were injected subcutaneously with alpha-2u-globulin at a dose of 1 mg/animal/day or with vehicle daily for 14 days and killed 16 h after the last injection. Plasma levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone (T) and testicular levels of T were measured by radioimmunoassays. The concentrations of norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) in medial basal hypothalamus (MBH) and anterior hypothalamus (AH) were measured by high performance liquid chromatography. Administration of alpha-2u-globulin led to a significant increase in plasma FSH and LH levels (P less than 0.05) as well as in plasma and testicular T levels (P less than 0.025). In the MBH of alpha-2u-globulin treated mice, there were significant elevations of NE (P less than 0.025), DA (P less than 0.01) and 5-HT (P less than 0.025) contents. In the AH, both DA (P less than 0.025) and 5-HT (P less than 0.01) contents were decreased while NE content remained unaltered. These results indicate that administration of alpha-2u-globulin can lead to a significant stimulation of pituitary-testicular axis and that this effect may be mediated through alteration of hypothalamic monoamines.
Ghosh
P K
PK
Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901-6512.
Chandrashekar
V
V
Steger
R
R
Bartke
A
A
D000510:Alpha-Globulins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D015306:Biogenic Monoamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000097:blood; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects*; D007032:Hypothalamus, Anterior / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D007034:Hypothalamus, Posterior / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009929:Organ Size; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000187:drug effects*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D000510:Alpha-Globulins; D015306:Biogenic Monoamines; D006062:Gonadotropins; C025500:alpha(2)-microglobulin; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone