title: Direct regulation of GnRH neuron excitability by arcuate nucleus POMC and NPY neuron neuropeptides in female mice.
abstract: Hypothalamic neuropeptide Y (NPY) and proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons act to sense and coordinate the brain's responses to metabolic cues. One neuronal network that is very sensitive to metabolic status is that controlling fertility. In this study, we investigated the impact of neuropeptides released by NPY and POMC neurons on the cellular excitability of GnRH neurons, the final output cells of the brain controlling fertility. The majority (∼70%) of GnRH neurons were activated by α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, and this resulted from the direct postsynaptic activation of melanocortin receptor 3 and melanocortin receptor 4. A small population of GnRH neurons (∼15%) was excited by cocaine and amphetamine-regulated transcript or inhibited by β-endorphin. Agouti-related peptide, released by NPY neurons, was found to have variable inhibitory (∼10%) and stimulatory (∼25%) effects upon subpopulations of GnRH neurons. A variety of NPY and pancreatic polypeptide analogs was used to examine potential NPY interactions with GnRH neurons. Although porcine NPY (Y1/Y2/Y5 agonist) directly inhibited the firing of approximately 45% of GnRH neurons, [Leu(31),Pro(34)]-NPY (Y1/Y4/Y5 agonist) could excite (56%) or inhibit (19%). Experiments with further agonists indicated that Y1 receptors were responsible for suppressing GnRH neuron activity, whereas postsynaptic Y4 receptors were stimulatory. These results show that the activity of GnRH neurons is regulated in a complex manner by neuropeptides released by POMC and NPY neurons. This provides a direct route through which different metabolic cues can regulate fertility.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Neuroendocrinology, Department of Physiology, University of Otago School of Medical Sciences, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roa
authors.forename: Allan E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Herbison
mesh_terms: D054369:Agouti-Related Protein / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001111:Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D020875:Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)- / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000378:metabolism*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000378:metabolism*; D044104:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 3 / Q000819:agonists; D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4 / Q000819:agonists; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000494:pharmacology; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000098882:Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Protein
chemical_list: D054369:Agouti-Related Protein; D020875:Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin; D044104:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 3; D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4; D000521:alpha-MSH; D001615:beta-Endorphin; C430443:agouti-related protein (86-132), human; C428723:cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript protein (55-102); D000098882:Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Protein