title: Inhibitory effect of neural transections of dorsal raphe nucleus on induction of nocturnal prolactin surge by vaginal stimulation in ovariectomized rats.
abstract: The effect of complete (CC), anterior (AC) or posterior (PC) cut of the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRn) on induction of the nocturnal prolactin (PRL) surge by electrical vaginal stimulation (VS) was investigated in ovariectomized rats. Plasma level of PRL was measured by radioimmunoassay before and after VS. The data revealed that PRL levels increased in early morning on the day following VS in the rats without brain surgery or with sham-operation. In contrast, the nocturnal PRL surge did not occur in the CC, AC, or PC rats. These results suggest that both the anterior and the posterior fibers of the DRn plays an important role in induction of nocturnal PRL surge by VS in ovariectomized rats.
authors.affiliation: Neuroendocrinology, Department of Basic Human Sciences, School of Human Sciences, Waseda University, 2-359-15 Mikajima, Tokorozawa, Saitama, 359-1192, Japan.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maekawa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsukahara
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsukamura
authors.forename: K I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamanouchi
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000502:physiology*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism*; D011903:Raphe Nuclei / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012636:Secretory Rate; D014621:Vagina / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D011388:Prolactin