Effects of Hypothalamic Deafferentation on Circulating Levels of LH, FSH, Prolactin and Testosterone in the Male Rat1

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Abstract
Anterior or total deafferentation of the medial basal hypothalamus (MBH) was performed in adult male rats, and LH, FSH, prolactin and testosterone were measured in blood collected by decapitation 6 weeks after surgery. Interruption of the anterior afferents to the MBH significantly reduced circulating levels of prolactin and complete deafferentation resulted in even lower levels. Serum LH, FSH and testosterone were unaffected by the partial deafferentation, but circulating levels of all three hormones were significantly depressed in "complete—cut" rats. Both the concentration and the total content of LH in the pituitary as well as the total pituitary content of prolactin were reduced by complete deafferentation of the MBH. Light microscope examination of the ventral prostate and seminal vesicles in completely deafferented rats indicated a chronic lack of gonadotropic stimulation. The results reveal that the anterior connections to the male MBH do not specifically influence the "tonic" synthesis or release of LH and FSH, but that some other neural input to the MBH is necessary to maintain "tonic" release of LH, FSH and testosterone, and that afferent fibers necessary for maintaining normal circulating levels of prolactin enter the MBH from anterior as well as other borders. (Endocrinology92: 1419, 1973)

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