title: Arcuate kisspeptin/neurokinin B/dynorphin (KNDy) neurons mediate the estrogen suppression of gonadotropin secretion and body weight.
abstract: Estrogen withdrawal increases gonadotropin secretion and body weight, but the critical cell populations mediating these effects are not well understood. Recent studies have focused on a subpopulation of hypothalamic arcuate neurons that coexpress estrogen receptor α, neurokinin 3 receptor (NK(3)R), kisspeptin, neurokinin B, and dynorphin for the regulation of reproduction. To investigate the function of kisspeptin/neurokinin B/dynorphin (KNDy) neurons, a novel method was developed to ablate these cells using a selective NK(3)R agonist conjugated to the ribosome-inactivating toxin, saporin (NK(3)-SAP). Stereotaxic injections of NK(3)-SAP in the arcuate nucleus ablated KNDy neurons, as demonstrated by the near-complete loss of NK(3)R, NKB, and kisspeptin-immunoreactive (ir) neurons and depletion of the majority of arcuate dynorphin-ir neurons. Selectivity was demonstrated by the preservation of proopiomelanocortin, neuropeptide Y, and GnRH-ir elements in the arcuate nucleus and median eminence. In control rats, ovariectomy (OVX) markedly increased serum LH, FSH, and body weight, and these parameters were subsequently decreased by treatment with 17β-estradiol. KNDy neuron ablation prevented the rise in serum LH after OVX and attenuated the rise in serum FSH. KNDy neuron ablation did not completely block the suppressive effects of E(2) on gonadotropin secretion, a finding consistent with redundant pathways for estrogen negative feedback. However, regardless of estrogen status, KNDy-ablated rats had lower levels of serum gonadotropins compared with controls. Surprisingly, KNDy neuron ablation prevented the dramatic effects of OVX and 17β-estradiol (E(2)) replacement on body weight and abdominal girth. These data provide evidence that arcuate KNDy neurons are essential for tonic gonadotropin secretion, the rise in LH after removal of E(2), and the E(2) modulation of body weight.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and the Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona 85724, USA.
authors.forename: Melinda A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mittelman-Smith
authors.forename: Hemalini
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Sally J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Krajewski-Hall
authors.forename: Josephine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ciofi
authors.forename: Nathaniel T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: McMullen
authors.forename: Naomi E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Rance
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001111:Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004399:Dynorphins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D000922:Immunotoxins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D059648:Kisspeptins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D015287:Neurokinin B / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000378:metabolism; D010052:Ovariectomy; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D054789:Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 1 / Q000737:chemistry; D000076985:Saporins
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D006062:Gonadotropins; D000922:Immunotoxins; D059648:Kisspeptins; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D054789:Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 1; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D004958:Estradiol; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin; D004399:Dynorphins; D015287:Neurokinin B; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D000076985:Saporins