Effects of Various Tachykinins on Pituitary LH Secretion, Feeding, and Sexual Behavior in the Rata

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Abstract
Our investigations of the four tachykinins tested have shown that NPK characteristically evoked a spectrum of biological effects in male and female rats. NPK suppressed pituitary LH release by inhibiting the release of hypothalamic LHRH, presumably by activation of NK‐2 tachykinin receptor subtypes. However, NPK may also act at the level of gonadotrophs to stimulate LH release in male rats. Central injection of NPK rapidly disrupted copulatory behavior in sexually active male rats. NPK also suppressed feeding, but, in this case, peripheral injections were more effective than central injections. Taken together, these observations strongly imply that NPK may be an inhibitory messenger molecule in the hypothalamic control of reproduction, sexual, and feeding behaviors.