Involvement of beta-adrenoceptors in a central regulation of the ovarian progesterone release in rats.
The intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of epinephrine modifies ovarian progesterone (P) release in rats on diestrus day 2 (D2).


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the characteristic of a central adrenergic effect on the ovarian P release on D2. Also, the function of the superior ovarian nerve (SON) is re-examined.


RESULTS
P concentrations were measured using radioimmunoassay techniques. The i.c.v. injection of 5 mg isoproterenol (beta-adrenergic agonist) in SON-intact rats on D2, decreased the P levels in ovarian vein blood from 1 to 25 min after injection (p<0.05). Similar treatment in SON-transected rats did not modify the P concentrations in ovarian vein blood between 1 and 25 min after injection. After 5 microg propranolol (beta-adrenergic antagonist) i.c.v. injection in SON-intact rats, the P levels in ovarian vein blood increased from 2 to 4 min (p<0.05). Similar treatment in SON-transected rats did not change the P concentrations in ovarian vein blood during 25 min after injection. The i.c.v. injection of 5 microg phenylephrine (alpha-adrenergic agonist) in SON-intact or SON-transected rats, did not modify the P levels in ovarian vein blood between 1 and 25 min after injection. After 5 microg phentolamine (alpha-adrenergic antagonist) i.c.v. injection in SON-intact or SON-transected rats, the P concentrations in ovarian vein blood did not change during 25 min.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest the participation of central beta-adrenergic receptors in the neural regulation of the ovarian P release in rats on D2, and, furthermore, that the central beta-adrenergic input is conduced almost entirely through the superior ovarian nerve.
De Bortoli
Miguel Angel
MA
Laboratorio de Biología de la Reproducción, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Argentina. midebort@unsl.edu.ar
Garraza
Marisa Hilda
MH
Aguado
Luis Inocencio
LI
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D010053:Ovary / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism*; D010646:Phentolamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D011433:Propranolol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014680:Veins
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D010656:Phenylephrine; D011374:Progesterone; D011433:Propranolol; D007545:Isoproterenol; D010646:Phentolamine