title: Manganese protects against the effects of alcohol on hypothalamic puberty-related hormones.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Since manganese (Mn) is capable of stimulating the hypothalamic-pituitary unit and advancing female puberty, we assessed the possibility that this element might overcome some of the detrimental effects of prepubertal alcohol (ALC) exposure on the hypothalamic control of pituitary function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats received either saline or Mn (10mg/kg) daily by gastric gavage from day 12 to day 31. After weaning, all rats were provided Lab Chow diet ad libitum until day 27 when they began receiving either the Bio Serv control or ALC diet regime. On day 31, the medial basal hypothalamus (MBH) was collected to assess luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) protein levels. Release of prostaglandin-E2 (PGE2), LHRH and serum luteinizing hormone (LH) were also assessed. Other animals were not terminated on day 31, but remained in study to assess timing of puberty.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Short-term ALC exposure caused elevated hypothalamic LHRH content, suggesting an inhibition in peptide release, resulting in a decrease in LH. Both actions of ALC were reversed by Mn supplementation. COX2 synthesis, as well as PGE2 and LHRH release were suppressed by ALC exposure, but Mn supplementation caused an increase in COX2 synthesis and subsequent PGE2 and LHRH release in the presence of ALC. Mn supplementation also ameliorated the action of ALC to delay puberty.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that low level Mn supplementation acts to protect the hypothalamus from some of the detrimental effects of ALC on puberty-related hormones.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4458, United States.
authors.forename: Jill K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Hiney
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4458, United States.
authors.forename: Vinod K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Srivastava
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4458, United States. Electronic address: ldees@cvm.tamu.edu.
authors.forename: William L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Dees
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000097:blood*; D008345:Manganese / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones; D000431:Ethanol; D008345:Manganese
keywords: Alcohol; Glia; Luteinizing hormone; Manganese; Puberty