The area postrema mediates insulin hypoglycaemia-induced suppression of pulsatile LH secretion in the female rat.
The caudal brainstem has been implicated in mediating the suppressive effect of glucoprivation on the reproductive neuroendocrine axis, specifically inhibition of pulsatile gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH)/luteinising hormone (LH) release in the rat. In the present study, removal of the area postrema completely prevented the profound inhibitory effect of insulin-induced hypoglycaemic stress on pulsatile LH release. These results suggest a pivotal role for this brainstem structure in mediating hypoglycaemic stress-induced suppression of the hypothalamic GnRH pulse generator.
Cates
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PS
Division of Anatomy, Cell and Human Biology, GKT School of Biomedical Sciences, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London, UK.
O'Byrne
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KT
D000818:Animals; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000502:physiology; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010507:Periodicity; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000503:physiopathology
D007328:Insulin; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone