The role of intracerebral insulin in the effect of nutrition on gonadotrophin secretion in mature male sheep.
The effect of nutrition on gonadotrophin secretion may be exerted through a central metabolic signal that reflects nutritional status. We have previously found that glucose and insulin concentrations are elevated in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of rams in which the secretion of gonadotrophins has been stimulated by a nutritional supplement of lupin grain (Lupinus angustifolius). In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that insulin and/or glucose is a metabolic modulator of GnRH secretion and mediates the effects of nutrition on gonadotrophin secretion. Six mature rams were fed a diet that maintained live weight and then given a series of infusions, each for 12 h/day for 4 days, in a cross-over design. The treatments were: artificial CSF (aCSF), glucose (50 mumol/h) in aCSF, insulin (0.6 ng/h) in aCSF, and glucose (50 mumol/h) plus insulin (0.6 ng/h) in aCSF; all infused at a rate of 5 microliters/min. At the same time as the infusion treatments, two other groups of four rams without cerebral cannulae were fed either the maintenance diet or the same diet supplemented with 750 g lupin grain per head per day for 4 days, again in a cross-over design. Rams fed the lupin supplement showed an increase in both LH pulse frequency and mean FSH on day 4 (P < 0.05). Infusion of aCSF or glucose did not affect gonadotrophin secretion. Rams infused with insulin or insulin plus glucose showed an increase (P < 0.05) in LH pulse frequency but no increase in FSH concentrations on day 4 of infusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D007887:Fabaceae; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology*
D007328:Insulin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D005947:Glucose