title: Activation of melanocortin receptors accelerates the gonadotropin-releasing hormone pulse generator activity in goats.
abstract: The present study aims to elucidate whether the central melanocortin receptors [melanocortin-3 and -4 receptors (MC3/4-R)] are involved in regulating GnRH pulse generator activity in female goats. The GnRH pulse generator activity was electrophysiologically assessed at the intervals of characteristic increases in multiple-unit activity (MUA volleys) in the mediobasal hypothalamus. In ovariectomized goats, all doses (0.02, 0.2 and 2 nmol) of MT II, an MC3/4-R agonist, injected into the lateral ventricle significantly shortened MUA volley intervals. The duration of the period during which MT II accelerated MUA volleys was positively correlated with the dose of MT II injected. The stimulatory effect of MT II on the GnRH pulse generator activity was attenuated in the presence of estrogen. Intracerebroventricular injection of SHU9119, an MC3/4-R antagonist, significantly prolonged MUA volley intervals at 1 nmol. MT II (0.2 nmol)-induced acceleration of MUA volleys was partially blocked by the antagonism of MC3/4-R with pre-administered SHU9119 (1 nmol). The present findings demonstrate that MC3/4-R are involved in maintaining GnRH pulse generator activity in goats.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, 2 Ikenodai, Tsukuba 305-8602, Japan.
authors.forename: Shuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsuyama
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohkura
authors.forename: Katsuyasu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sakurai
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsukamura
authors.forename: Kei-ichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okamura
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000379:methods; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006041:Goats; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D007033:Hypothalamus, Middle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular / Q000379:methods; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000379:methods; D044101:Receptors, Melanocortin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D009842:Oligopeptides; D044101:Receptors, Melanocortin; C103272:SHU 9119; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D004958:Estradiol; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones