title: Effects of LPS injection on the hypothalamic and testicular mRNA expression levels of reproductive factors in male rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the hypothalamus, kisspeptin and RFamide-related peptide (RFRP) regulate gonadotropin-releasing hormone expression. Kisspeptin and RFRP are also found in the testes and might play roles in steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The present study demonstrated that the hypothalamic mRNA expression level of the kisspeptin receptor was decreased by the injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (500 μg/kg) in male rats, and it was suggested that such changes might contribute to reductions in serum luteinizing hormone levels. Contrary to our expectations, hypothalamic RFRP and testicular GPR147 (the RFRP receptor) mRNA expression were also decreased by LPS injection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We speculate that changes in hypothalamic RFRP expression might represent a protective response aimed at attenuating LPS-induced anorectic responses.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Institute of Health Biosciences, Kuramoto-Cho, Tokushima, Japan.
authors: Takeshi
authors: T
authors: Iwasa
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Institute of Health Biosciences, Kuramoto-Cho, Tokushima, Japan.
authors: Toshiya
authors: T
authors: Matsuzaki
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Institute of Health Biosciences, Kuramoto-Cho, Tokushima, Japan.
authors: Altankhuu
authors: A
authors: Tungalagsuvd
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Institute of Health Biosciences, Kuramoto-Cho, Tokushima, Japan.
authors: Munkhsaikhan
authors: M
authors: Munkhzaya
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Institute of Health Biosciences, Kuramoto-Cho, Tokushima, Japan.
authors: Akira
authors: A
authors: Kuwahara
authors: Department of Reproductive Technology, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Japan.
authors: Toshiyuki
authors: T
authors: Yasui
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Institute of Health Biosciences, Kuramoto-Cho, Tokushima, Japan.
authors: Minoru
authors: M
authors: Irahara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D059648:Kisspeptins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C491406:Kiss1 protein, rat; D059648:Kisspeptins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D009479:Neuropeptides; C416987:RFamide peptide; D012333:RNA, Messenger