title: Preoptic release of amino acid neurotransmitters evaluated in peripubertal and young adult female rats by push-pull perfusion.
abstract: In order to evaluate the participation of amino acid neurotransmitters (AANT) in pubertal development, we measured the preoptic release rates of glutamate (Glu), aspartate (Asp), homocysteic acid (HCA), gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glycine (Gly), and taurine (Tau) in female rats aged 26, 35 and 42 days. Push-pull cannulae were implanted in the preoptic area (POA) after reinforcing the os calvarium by cementing a slightly curved 2-mm thick polyethylene plaque. Four days later, 120-min perfusion experiments (0-90 min: artificial CSF; 90-120 min: CSF containing 50 mM KCl) were performed. Amino acid concentrations were measured in 15-min fractions after derivatization with phenylisothiocyanate, using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and UV detection. Rats aged 42 days showed significantly (p < 0.01) higher preoptic Asp release rates, as compared to 26-day-old rats; Glu output increased significantly (p < 0.05) in animals aged 35 and 42 days, as compared to 26-day-old rats. No significant changes in HCA release were observed. Preoptic release rates of GABA, Gly and Tau were significantly higher in 26-day-old animals as compared to 35-day-old (GABA, p < 0.05) and 35- and 42-day-old rats (Gly, Tau, p < 0.01). Basal release of Asp, Glu, HCA, Tau and GABA, but not of Gly, was significantly stimulated (p < 0.05) by KCl in all age groups. It is suggested that in peripubertal female rats, increased preoptic Asp and Glu release rates and decreased GABA and Tau output might enhance luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone secretion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für klinische und experimentelle Endokrinologie, Georg-August-Universität, Göttingen, FRG.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goroll
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arias
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wuttke
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D010477:Perfusion; D011301:Preoptic Area / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents