PERIODIC MODIFICATIONS OF THE PREOPTICO-TERMINAL LRH TRACT IN THE SQUIRREL-MONKEY DURING THE ESTROUS-CYCLE

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 40  (3) , 191-202
Abstract
The quantities of specific immunoreactive material along the preoptico-terminal LRH [luliberin] tract show important modifications during the estrous cycle in the squirrel monkey. During the late follicular phase and the peri-ovulatory period the preoptico-terminal LRH tract shows low or very low fluorescence intensity. A progressive but very important increase occurs during the luteal phase, followed by great variations during the early and middle follicular phases. These variations suggest a conspicuous release of LRH, especially during the middle follicular phase. It is supposed that the preoptico-terminal LRH tract (whose LRH is released into the capillaries of the vascular organ of the lamina terminalis and reaches the systemic blood) controls gonadotropic cell sensitivity to the preovulatory discharge of the hypothalamo-infundibular LRH tract, and perhaps also gonadotropin synthesis.