title: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor in spinal cord neurons of embryos and adult rats.
abstract: Mammalian gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and its receptor have been found in the neuroendocrine reproductive axis. However, they can be localized in other extra-pituitary tissues as well including the central nervous system. The present study reports the expression of GnRH receptor and its mRNA in spinal cord neurons of rat embryos and adult rats, using immunohistochemistry and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Immunohistochemistry showed that the spinal cord neurons of rat embryos and adult rats expressed the GnRH receptor. The study of GnRH receptor mRNAs revealed that both cultured spinal cord neurons of rat embryos and adult rats expressed the GnRH receptor mRNA. Additional in vitro experiments showed that the expression of GnRH receptor mRNA was less in the spinal cord neurons exposed to GnRH compared to unexposed ones. These results raise the possibility that GnRH may play other roles independently from its participation in reproductive function.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Centro de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Av. Universidad 940 C.P. 20100, Aguascalientes, Mexico. jlquinta@correo.uaa.mx
authors.forename: J Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Quintanar
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Salinas
authors.forename: Rodolfo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: González
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011966:Receptors, LHRH / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011966:Receptors, LHRH; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone