Hyperprolactinemia disrupts neuroendocrine responses of male rats to female conspecifics.
An increase in plasma luteinizing hormone levels which occurs in the male rat in response to the presence of a receptive female was associated with increased norepinephrine metabolism in several regions of the hypothalamus and reduced norepinephrine metabolism in preoptic area and olfactory bulbs. Hyperprolactinemia induced by grafting three anterior pituitary glands beneath the kidney capsule blocked female-induced changes in norepinephrine metabolism and attenuated the increase in luteinizing hormone release. These results suggest that endocrine and behavioral responses of male rats to the presence of a female are mediated by changes in catecholamine metabolism in several brain regions. The ability of hyperprolactinemia to induce deficits in male sexual behavior may be due to the blockade of these CNS responses to exteroceptive stimuli originating from the female.
Department of Physiology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Carbondale.
R W
RW
Steger
A
A
Bartke
P A
PA
Bain
V
V
Chandrashekar
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006966:Hyperprolactinemia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism*; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000378:metabolism; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000637:transplantation; D011301:Preoptic Area / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*
D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine