title: Central infusion of agouti-related peptide suppresses pulsatile luteinizing hormone release in the ovariectomized rhesus monkey.
abstract: Agouti-related peptide (AGRP), an endogenous melanocortin receptor antagonist, is a powerful orexigenic peptide when infused centrally. AGRP and neuropeptide Y (NPY), another orexigenic peptide, are colocated within the same neurons in the arcuate nucleus. Both NPY and AGRP mRNA expression increases during food restriction, a condition that is known to suppress the GnRH pulse generator and reproductive function. Although NPY has been shown previously to suppress LH secretion in the ovariectomized monkey, data on AGRP are lacking. In this study, we examined the effect of AGRP infusion into the third ventricle on pulsatile LH release in five adult monkeys. The 8-h protocol included a 3-h intraventricular saline infusion to establish baseline pulsatile LH release, followed by a 5-h infusion of AGRP (83-132) [5 microg/h (n=1) or 10 microg/h (n=4)]. In separate experiments, each animal received an 8-h saline treatment as a control. Blood samples were collected every 15 min for LH measurements. Cortisol levels were measured every 45 min. AGRP infusion significantly decreased LH pulse frequency (from a baseline of 0.74 +/- 0.07 pulse/h to 0.36 +/- 0.12 during AGRP infusion; P <0.01) and mean LH concentrations (to 41.1 +/- 7.5% of baseline by h 5 of AGRP infusion; P < 0.001). LH pulse amplitude was not modified by AGRP treatment. AGRP infusion also significantly increased cortisol release, as previously reported. The data demonstrate that central administration of AGRP inhibits pulsatile LH release in the monkey and suggest that AGRP, like NPY, may mediate the effect of a negative energy balance on the reproductive system by suppressing the GnRH pulse generator.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, 630 West 168th Street, New York, New York 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Nicolas R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Vulliémoz
authors.forename: Ennian
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Linna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xia-Zhang
authors.forename: Sharon L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Wardlaw
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferin
mesh_terms: D054369:Agouti-Related Protein; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011673:Pulsatile Flow
chemical_list: D054369:Agouti-Related Protein; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C485227:agouti-related protein (87-132), human; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone