Effects of taurine on basal and stimulated luteinizing hormone (LH) and LH-releasing hormone secretion in ovariectomized rats: in vitro studies.
Taurine (Tau), a putative inhibitory amino acid neurotransmitter, has been shown to inhibit luteinizing hormone (LH) release in vivo. We investigated the effect of this amino acid on LH secretion by cultured anterior pituitary cells. A 5-h incubation with Tau (10(-3)-10(-8) M) did not affect basal or LH-releasing hormone (LHRH)-stimulated LH release. Basal LHRH release from superfused mediobasal hypothalamic fragments was not affected by Tau (10(-3) M). However, this substance clearly diminished LHRH release after stimulation with KCl (50 mM) or N-methyl-D-aspartate (10(-4) M). It is concluded that Tau may exert an inhibitory effect on LH secretion acting at the hypothalamic level.
Arias
P
P
Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Goroll
D
D
Convertini
V
V
Jarry
H
H
Wuttke
W
W
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D007033:Hypothalamus, Middle / Q000378:metabolism; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000494:pharmacology; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013654:Taurine / Q000494:pharmacology*
D013654:Taurine; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone