Opioid peptides inhibit noradrenergic transmission in the preoptic area to block LH secretion: evidence from neonatally androgenised rats.
A series of experiments are described which show (a) that the release of noradrenaline in the preoptic area of rats is regulated by a presynaptic opioid receptor and, (b) that changes in the opioid control of preoptic noradrenaline release are associated with the anovulatory condition found in adult female rats which have been exposed to androgen neonatally. The experiments support the hypothesis that opioid-noradrenergic interaction in the preoptic area is an important component in the neural mechanism regulating gonadotrophin secretion.
Dyer
R G
RG
Department of Neuroendocrinology, AFRC Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research, Babraham, Cambridge, U.K.
Grossmann
R
R
Mansfield
S
S
Diez-Guerra
F J
FJ
Bicknell
R J
RJ
Hollingsworth
S
S
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004723:Endorphins / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010906:Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D011301:Preoptic Area / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology
D004723:Endorphins; D010906:Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones; D009270:Naloxone; D013739:Testosterone; D009020:Morphine; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D009638:Norepinephrine