PERIODIC RELEASE OF GONADOLIBERIN (GNRH) BY RAT HYPOTHALAMUS INVITRO

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 175  (3) , 389-396
Abstract
Hypothalamus were dissected from suprachiasmatic area to mamillary bodies in 50-day-old male rats. These fragments were subsequently removed and incubated for 3 h at 37.degree. C in Dulbecco Modified Eagle''s medium supplemented with glucose and containing Ca (1.25 mM) and K (5.81 mM). Incubation medium was changed every 5 or 15 min and immediately collected at 4.degree. C for highly specific radioimmunoassay of gonadoliberin (GnRH) using R 42 antiserum of Nett and Niswender. In these conditions, mean .+-. 1 SD release of immunoreactive GnRH/1 h was 199 .+-. 68 pg (n = 4) and 135 .+-. 38 pg (n = 6) in medium collected every 5 and 15 min, respectively. GnRH release was episodic, 3-5 peaks being observed during a period of 2 h. Following deafferentation and isolation in vitro, mature hypothalamus apparently remains capable of releasing GnRH in a spontaneous periodic manner, suggesting that this particular feature of neuroendocrine maturation can be initiated in the hypothalamus itself.

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