title: Reproductive axis response to repeated lipopolysaccharide administration in peripubertal female rats.
abstract: Immune system disorders are often accompanied by alterations in the reproductive axis. Several reports have shown that administration of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has central inflammatory effects and activates cytokine release in the hypothalamus where the luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (Gn-RH) neurons are located. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of repeated LPS administration on the neuroendocrine mechanisms of control of the reproductive axis in peripubertal female rats (30-day-old rats). With this aim, LPS (50 mug/kg weight) was administered to the animals during 25, 27 and 29 days of age and sacrificed on 30 day of life. Gn-RH, gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) and glutamic acid (GLU), two amino acids involved in the regulation of Gn-RH secretion, hypothalamic content were measured. LH and estradiol serum levels were also determined and the day of vaginal opening examined. The results showed a significant increase in Gn-RH and GLU content (p < 0.0001), shared by a reduction of GABA one (p < 0.0001). LH and estradiol serum levels were decreased (p < 0.01, p < 0.001) and delay in the day of vaginal opening was also observed in treated animals. Present results show that repeated LPS administration impaired reproductive function, modifying the neuroendocrine mechanisms of control of the axis in peripubertal female rats.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Endocrinology, Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arias
authors.forename: Berta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Szwarcfarb
authors.forename: Osvaldo
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ponzo
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carbone
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moguilevsky
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scacchi
authors.forename: Roxana María
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Reynoso
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid