bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Role of prolactin in a pheromone-like sexual inhibition in the male lesser mouse lemur
Authors: Perret M. , Schilling A. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
Sexual activity of the male lesser mouse lemur can be induced by a long photoperiod, and plasma testosterone concentrations increase from 20 to 220 nmol/l within 3 weeks of photoperiodic stimulation. When isolated males were exposed to the volatile compounds from the urine of an active dominant male for 4 weeks at the beginning of the long daylight period, they demonstrated a significant decrease in testosterone concentrations (134± 11 nmol/l) compared with controls (210 ± 26 nmol/l) within 2 weeks. Lowering concentrations of prolactin by daily injections of bromocriptine prevented the decrease in testosterone in males simultaneously exposed to the odorant stimulation. Increasing concentrations of prolactin by daily injections of sulpiride mimicked the effect of the odorant stimulation in males receiving only fresh non-odorized air. The decrease in testosterone was strengthened when sulpiride was administered concurrently with exposure to urine. These results support the conclusion that variations in the concentration of prolactin are involved in the neuroendocrinological process mediating the pheromone-like sexual inhibition in the male lesser mouse lemur. However, daily injections of bromocriptine in males which were photoperiodically stimulated but not exposed to dominant male urine odour, also induced a significant decrease in testosterone concentrations. This finding suggests that two different systems involving prolactin and leading to opposite effects might be implicated in the regulation by environmental factors of sexual activity in the male lesser mouse lemur.
J. Endocr. (1987) 114, 279–287
Plasma concentrations of ovarian steroids in the freshwater European silver eel (Anguilla anguilla L.): effects of hypophysectomy and transfer to sea water
Authors: Quérat B. , Nahoul K. , Hardy A. , Fontaine Y. A. , Leloup-Hâtey J. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
Intact and hypophysectomized freshwater (FW) silver eels were transferred to tanks of FW or artificial sea water (SW; salinity = 0·60 osmol/l) which were simultaneously renewed twice a week. Fish were killed 2 months after transfer and plasma was assayed for ovarian steroids.
In all fish, 5α-androstane-3β,17β-diol was present, while 5α-dihydrotestosterone and 5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol were undetectable.
In intact FW eels, plasma levels of testosterone, 5α-androstane-3β,17β-diol and oestradiol-17β were approximately 0·15 nmol/l. In intact SW eels, no change in plasma levels of testosterone and 5α-androstane-3β,17β-diol was found, whereas the concentration of oestradiol-17β was increased significantly (P<0·01), indicating stimulation of aromatase activity.
In hypophysectomized compared with intact FW fish, plasma levels of testosterone and 5α-androstane-3β,17β-diol were decreased (P<0·05) and there was a slight but significant (P<0·01) augmentation of the plasma concentration of oestradiol-17β which may have involved the removal of pituitary-dependent inhibition of aromatase activity, possibly by 5α-reduced compounds.
In hypophysectomized compared with intact SW fish, plasma levels of testosterone, 5α-androstane-3β,17β-diol and oestradiol-17β were decreased (P<0·05); in the case of oestradiol-17β, this may have reflected the diminished ovarian synthesis of testosterone, its precursor. The plasma level of oestradiol-17β was, however, higher in SW than in FW fish, even in hypophysectomized eels. This suggests that extra-pituitary mechanisms mediate, at least partly, the effects of transfer to SW on aromatase activity.
J. Endocr. (1987) 114, 289–294
Scanning electron microscopy of postovulatory human endometrium in spontaneous cycles and cycles stimulated by hormone treatment
Authors: Martel D. , Frydman R. , Glissant M. , Maggioni C. , Roche D. , Psychoyos A. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
The ultrastructure of the luminal surface epithelium was compared in endometrial samples taken from 23 normally cycling women and from 22 patients submitted to ovarian stimulation with clomiphene citrate (100 mg/day for 5 days), human menopausal gonadotrophin (hMG) and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). On day 2 after ovulation, only four out of nine specimens taken from the women in the hormone-treated group were identical to those of normally cycling women. On day 6 after ovulation, only two out of the 13 biopsy specimens from the treated group were the same as those from normally cycling women at that stage. Apical protrusions (pinopodes), typical for this period of the cycle, were missing in 11 of the 13 endometrial samples from the treated group.
These observations suggest that the hormonal treatment applied to induce ovulation (clomiphene citrate, hMG and hCG) can modify the normal development of the prenidatory endometrium, and may thus have a negative effect on the rate of egg implantation.
J. Endocr. (1987) 114, 319–324
Changes in concentration of human atrial natriuretic peptide in normal pregnancy and toxaemia
Authors: Otsuki Y. , Okamoto E. , Iwata I. , Nishino E. , Mitsuda N. , Mori M. , Takagi T. , Sugita N. , Tanizawa O. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
Changes in concentration of human atrial natriuretic peptide (hANP) in normal and toxaemic pregnancy were examined. The maternal plasma concentration of hANP increased gradually during normal pregnancy to a maximum of 20·0±2·4 pmol/l (mean ± s.e.m.) after week 36 of pregnancy. From week 20, the plasma concentrations of hANP were significantly higher than those in non-pregnant women (9·3±2·0 pmol/l). In toxaemia with hypertension, maternal plasma hANP levels were increased after week 26 of pregnancy (37·7±6·0 pmol/l) compared with those in normal gravida at the same time (17·1±1·6 pmol/l). Maternal plasma hANP levels in toxaemia only with oedema were not different from those in normal gravida.
J. Endocr. (1987) 114, 325–328
In-vivo evaluation of dopamine receptor-mediated inhibition of gonadotrophin secretion from the pituitary gland of the goldfish, Carassius auratus
Authors: Omeljaniuk R. J. , Shih S. H. , Peter R. E. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
Dopamine acts directly on the pituitary to modulate gonadotrophin (GtH) secretion in goldfish (Carassius auratus). In the light of this important role for dopamine in the regulation of goldfish reproduction, this investigation was designed to evaluate the receptor specificity of this dopamine inhibition and to describe the use of domperidone, a specific dopamine D2-receptor antagonist, in the manipulation of pituitary function in goldfish. To investigate the specificity of dopamine inhibition of GtH secretion, selected dopamine receptor antagonists were injected i.p. to block dopamine receptors thereby increasing GtH secretion as reflected by increased serum concentrations of GtH. Serum GtH levels were significantly increased by the active stereoisomer (−)-sulpiride in a dose-related fashion; (+)-sulpiride had no effect. Comparison of dopamine antagonists at low doses indicated that only domperidone and pimozide caused significant increases in serum concentrations of GtH. Dopamine antagonists potentiated the action of a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRH-A) with an order of potency of domperidone = pimozide > metoclopramide = fluphenazine. [3H]Domperidone, injected i.p. with unlabelled domperidone, entered the blood and achieved maximum concentrations 12 h after injection, but did not accumulate in the brain in appreciable amounts. Gonadal 3H radioactivity was usually equal to or in excess of blood radioactivity, while [3H]domperidone was highly concentrated in the pituitary in a time-dependent fashion, with maximal accumulation occurring 24 h after injection. The time-course of pituitary accumulation of [3H]domperidone correlated well with the temporal increase in serum GtH levels in response to i.p. injected domperidone or domperidone plus an analogue of LHRH. Domperidone increased serum concentrations of GtH in a dose-related fashion; an analogue of salmon GnRH (sGnRH-A) increased the sensitivity and magnitude of the serum GtH response to domperidone. Serum concentrations of GtH were increased by sGnRH-A in a dose-related fashion; a low dose of domperidone substantially increased the sensitivity of the serum GtH response to sGnRH-A.
These results indicate that dopamine inhibits GtH secretion from the goldfish pituitary by acting through a specific mechanism mediated by a dopamine D2 receptor. Domperidone increased serum concentrations of GtH, potentiated the action of gonadotrophin-releasing hormones and did not pass into the brain after i.p. injection into goldfish. The data also suggest that dopamine and GnRH, although acting through different receptors, influence the effect of each other on GtH release.
J. Endocr. (1987) 114, 449–458
Adult rat Sertoli cells secrete a factor or factors which modulate Leydig cell function
Authors: Papadopoulos V. , Kamtchouing P. , Drosdowsky M. A. , de Reviers M. T. Hochereau , Carreau S. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
Production of testosterone and oestradiol-17β by Leydig cells from adult rats was stimulated by LH or dibutyryl cyclic AMP (10 and 2·5-fold respectively). The addition of spent medium from normal, hemicastrated or γ-irradiated rat seminiferous tubule cultures, as well as from Sertoli cell cultures, to purified Leydig cells further enhanced both basal (44 and 53% for testosterone and oestradiol-17β respectively) and LH-stimulated (56 and 18%) steroid output. Simultaneously, a decrease (20–30%) in intracellular cyclic AMP levels was observed. This stimulating factor (or factors) secreted by the Sertoli cells is different from LHRH, is of proteinic nature and has a molecular weight ranging between 10 000 and 50 000; its synthesis is not controlled by FSH nor by testosterone. This factor(s) involved in rat Leydig cell steroidogenesis, at a step beyond the adenylate cyclase, does not require protein synthesis for testosterone formation whereas it does for oestradiol-17β production. It should be noted that a germ cell–Sertoli cell interaction modulates the synthesis of this factor(s).
J. Endocr. (1987) 114, 459–467
Diurnal rhythm of vasopressin but not of oxytocin in the cerebrospinal fluid of the goat: lack of association with plasma cortisol rhythm
Authors: Seckl J. R. , Lightman S. L. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
Diurnal rhythms in the concentrations of vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) differ between species and are unrelated to changes in the levels of these hormones in the peripheral circulation. We have investigated neurohypophysial hormone rhythms in the CSF of the conscious goat by determining whether they are entrained by daily cycles of light and darkness and by assessing the effect of the suppression of plasma cortisol.
Goats were implanted with cisternal cannulae under halothane anaesthesia and allowed to recover. They were accustomed to a 12 h light:12 h darkness lighting cycle (lights on from 07.30 to 19.30 h). After initial serial CSF and plasma sampling the daily cycle of light and darkness was reversed. Three goats were kept in constant light for 8 days before the study and five were given dexamethasone (5 mg/12 h) for 4 days.
There was a significant (P < 0·01) diurnal variation in CSF concentrations of AVP, with a maximum of 3·6 ± 0·8 (s.e.m.) pmol/l at 12.00 h and a minimum of 1·4 ± 0·3 pmol/l at 24.00 h. There were no significant changes in CSF concentrations of oxytocin or plasma AVP. After the light:darkness cycle was reversed the AVP rhythm in the CSF was disrupted after 24 h and reversed after 8 days. The diurnal rhythm of AVP in CSF persisted in animals exposed to constant light. After treatment with dexamethasone plasma cortisol was suppressed and showed no diurnal rhythm but the AVP rhythm in CSF remained unchanged.
J. Endocr. (1987) 114, 477–482
Immunohistochemical localization of relaxin, prolactin and prostaglandin synthase in human amnion, chorion and decidua
Authors: Bryant-Greenwood G. D. , Rees M. C. P. , Turnbull A. C. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
Relaxin, prolactin and prostaglandin synthase were localized by the avidin-biotin immunoglucose oxidase method in human amnion, chorion and decidua. Specimens from ten normal spontaneous deliveries and four elective Caesarean section deliveries with no labour were compared. Relaxin was found more consistently in the cells of the chorionic cytotrophoblast than in the cells of the parietal decidua adherent to the fetal membranes. Only half the tissues after spontaneous delivery contained positive relaxin-stained cells, whereas all the tissues from elective Caesarean sections contained cells positively stained with antiserum to relaxin. In both series of tissues prolactin was localized predominantly in the parietal decidual cells and was very infrequently found in the chorionic cytotrophoblast. Polyclonal antiserum to prostaglandin synthase was used to identify those cells producing prostaglandin in amnion, chorion and decidua. The cells of the amnion and chorion showed positive immunolocalization with no differences between tissues collected before or after labour. Double immunostaining using avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase for prolactin, followed by avidin-biotin immunoglucose oxidase for prostaglandin synthase, produced identical results in the same series of tissues examined with the single-staining method.
J. Endocr. (1987) 114, 491–496
Significance of the calcium content of mouse β cells in the preservation of glucose-induced insulin release during culture
Authors: Bergsten P. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
Pancreatic islets containing more than 90% β cells from obese–hyperglycaemic (ob/ob) mice were cultured for 3 days in different concentrations of Ca2+ and glucose to evaluate the importance of intracellular Ca2+ sequestration in glucose-induced insulin release. The islet contents of calcium (total and exchangeable) and immunoreactive insulin were compared with the insulin secretory response to glucose after culture. The turnover of Ca2+ increased with increasing concentrations of glucose and Ca2+. Islets cultured in the presence of 5.5 mmol glucose/1 contained more calcium and insulin than those cultured with 1 or 20 mmol glucose/1. During culture in 20 mmol glucose/1, a lowering of the Ca2+ concentration of the medium from 0.42 to 0.025 mmol/l resulted in a paradoxical increase in intracellular calcium, with improvement of the subsequent secretory response to the sugar. When the islets had been exposed to the calcium channel blocker D-600 during culture in a Ca2+-deficient medium, substantial insulin release was noted from islets containing relatively small amounts of calcium. The results suggest that the well-established role of glucose in maintaining insulin release is associated with an ability of the sugar to stimulate the retention of calcium in β cells.
J. Endocr. (1987) 115, 27-34
Arginine vasopressin and oxytocin in the bovine adrenal gland
Authors: Nussey S. S. , Prysor-Jones R. A. , Taylor A. , Ang V. T. Y. , Jenkins J. S. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
The concentrations of immunoreactive oxytocin and arginine vasopressin (AVP) and their respective neurophysins (NpI and NpII) were compared in bovine adrenal cortex and medulla. While the concentration of AVP was similar in both tissues there was more NpII in the medulla. The medulla also contained much more oxytocin and NpI than the cortex. The extracted AVP and oxytocin had identical retention times to those of the synthetic peptides on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and were biologically active in assays for antidiuretic and milk-ejection activity (with potencies of 310 units/mg and 340 units/mg respectively). Adrenal NpI and NpII behaved identically to commercially available neurohypophysial proteins on HPLC.
Oxytocin, NpI and AVP were assayed in five subcellular fractions of bovine adrenal medulla prepared on discontinuous sucrose gradients. A high proportion of each co-localized with noradrenaline and adrenaline in the chromaffin granule fraction.
Binding of [3H]AVP and [3H]oxytocin to crude bovine adrenal medulla membranes was dependent upon both time and temperature. The binding sites were specific and saturable: studies with the V1 AVP antagonist d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)AVP and the V2 agonist 1-deamino-8-d-AVP indicated that the AVP receptor was V1 in specificity. Scatchard plots showed that each ligand interacted with a single high-affinity, low-capacity binding site: oxytocin dissociation constant (Kd) 3·1 ±0·29 nmol/l, maximum binding capacity (Bmax) 89·6 ±18·4 fmol/mg protein (n = 3); AVP Kd 0·73 ±0·02 nmol/l, Bmax 26·5 ±8·3 fmol/mg protein (n = 3).
Oxytocin and AVP had no effect on basal catecholamine release from bovine chromaffin cells in primary monolayer culture. However, both peptides inhibited acetylcholine- or nicotine-stimulated noradrenaline and adrenaline release in a dose-related manner. Neither inhibited noradrenaline or adrenaline secretion stimulated by veratridine- or potassium-induced depolarization.
We conclude that the bovine adrenal cortex and medulla contain authentic AVP and oxytocin. In the medulla the peptides are packaged in secretory granules. The presence of the related neurophysins and high-affinity receptors in the medulla suggests that the peptides are both synthesized and have their site of action within this tissue. The function of AVP and oxytocin in the medulla may be indicated by the inhibition of acetylcholine-stimulated catecholamine secretion in vitro, although the effect requires high concentrations of either peptide.
J. Endocr. (1987) 115, 141–149
Solubilization of a large molecular weight form of the rat LHRH receptor
Authors: Ogier S.-A. , Mitchell R. , Fink G. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
The LHRH receptor has been solubilized from male rat anterior pituitary glands, using the zwitterionic detergent 3-((3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio)-1-propanesulphonate in the presence of a high concentration of sodium chloride. This method gave high yields (up to > 70%) of the LHRH-binding site from the membrane preparation. Ligand binding studies using LHRH analogues were carried out to determine dissociation constants for LHRH receptors both in situ in the membrane preparation and for solubilized LHRH receptors. For all the analogues the binding characteristics were similar in both preparations, suggesting that the solubilization procedure left the LHRH receptor undenatured. Gel filtration revealed an apparent molecular weight for the LHRH receptor of 100 000–160 000, with the mean value being approximately twice that found by others using sodium dodecyl sulphate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic techniques. The results indicate that the LHRH receptor probably exists in gonadotroph membranes as a large complex of more than one subunit.
J. Endocr. (1987) 115, 151–159
Changes in peripheral progestagen levels in early pregnant gilts following injection of human chorionic gonadotrophin
Authors: Stone B. A. , Heap P. A. , Seamark R. F. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
The capacity of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) to raise plasma progestagen levels during the first 8 days of gestation in gilts was examined. The effective half-times of hCG in gilts treated with 500 and 5000 i.u. hCG were 29·1 and 26·3 h respectively (P >0·05). Neither 500 nor 5000 i.u. hCG caused rises in peripheral concentrations of progesterone or pregnenolone sulphate, and plasma pregnenolone concentrations declined (P <0·05) following hCG treatment. Apart from diminished total corpus luteal weights in gilts treated with 500 i.u. hCG (P <0·05) and lower peripheral progesterone levels in gilts treated with 5000 i.u. hCG (P <0·05), ovarian and plasma steroid characteristics of hCG-treated animals between 23 and 25 days of gestation were similar to control values. Furthermore, treatment with hCG did not affect embryo survival during the first 4 weeks of pregnancy, and plasma oestrone/oestrone sulphate levels provided no evidence for differences between control and treated animals in trophoblastic out-growth. These results challenge the rationale for the treatment of early pregnant sows with hCG in order to reduce the levels of embryonic wastage in early pregnancy.
J. Endocr. (1987) 115, 161–167
Immunohistochemical demonstration of marked changes in the LHRH system of photosensitive and photorefractory European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris)
Authors: Foster R. G. , Plowman G. , Goldsmith A. R. , Follett B. K. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
Immunocytochemistry was used to determine the effects of photoperiod on the LHRH neurosecretory system in the brain of male European starlings. In this species, as in other birds, reproduction is triggered by long daylengths but continued exposure leads to photorefractoriness and to a complete shut-down of the reproductive system. These effects are thought to be mediated through changes in the secretion of LHRH. In starlings exposed to a photoperiod of 11 h light: 13 h darkness (11L: 13D) and with fully developed testes there was strong immunostaining of both LHRH perikarya (n = 522 ± 43 s.e.m.) and fibres. Photosensitive short-day (8L: 16D) starlings with undeveloped testes had an almost identical distribution of strongly immunoreactive perikarya (n = 523 ± 62) but there were fewer fibres. In the median eminence, fibre number was reduced significantly (P < 0·01) by some 30%. In long-day (18L: 6D) photorefractory starlings with fully regressed testes there was an even more obvious change in the LHRH system. Perikarya were only weakly immunoreactive and there was a significant (P < 0·01) reduction in mean diameter from 10 to 6·5 μm. In addition, there was a significant (P < 0·05) reduction in cell number (312 ± 62), although this may well result from the fact that some weakly stained cells fell below the limits of resolution and could not be counted. LHRH fibres disappeared almost entirely from the median eminence, and were not visible elsewhere in the brain. The higher neural pathways regulating photorefractoriness induced by long days are unknown but clearly both production of LHRH in the perikarya and release/storage of LHRH in the terminals is being profoundly modified.
J. Endocr. (1987) 115, 211–220
Anaesthesia with alphaxalone plus alphadolone acetate decreases serum concentrations of LH in castrated rats
Authors: Emanuele M. A. , Tentler J. , Kirsteins L. , Reda D. , Emanuele N. V. , Lawrence A. M. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
Alphaxalone is considered the anaesthetic of choice in neuroendocrine reproductive studies in female rats, since it appears to have little, if any, effect on release of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone. There has been less study of the effects of this anaesthetic on the male reproductive neuroendocrine axis, however. Accordingly, the time-dependent effects of alphaxalone, as well as of urethane and ketamine, on the increased levels of LH in castrated rats were determined. Each anaesthetic was administered i.p. and each depressed LH levels significantly compared with those in castrated unanaesthetized rats killed by decapitation (controls). The effect of the anaesthetics was noted 15 min after administration and persisted at 30 and 60 min in animals anaesthetized with alphaxalone and urethane. Only in ketamine-anaesthetized animals did serum concentrations of LH finally rise to concentrations not significantly different from those in control rats. Thus alphaxalone, though useful in female neuroendocrine studies, is as profoundly disruptive as other anaesthetics on the male rat hypothalamic-pituitary reproductive unit.
J. Endocr. (1987) 115, 221–223