Hypothalamic alpha adrenergic receptors and the regulation of LHRH release

The neurotransmitter system regulating the release of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) has been actively investigated since the classic 1947 work of Sawyer. The literature indicates that LHRH release is primarily under the control of the α adrenergic system. The α adrenergic receptor subtype mediating LHRH release has not been established however. Also, most investigators have used changes in plasma luteinizing hormone to infer changes in hypothalamic LHRH release, rather than directly examining LHRH release. The purpose of this work was to directly examine the release of hypothalamic LHRH and determine if α\sb1 or α\sb2 receptors mediates changes in its release. Initially, this thesis demonstrates that the in vitro pulsatile administration of 10$\sp{-5}$M of the α\sb1 adrenergic agonist methoxamine (MTX) stimulates LHRH release from superfused female rat mediobasal hypothalami. This is a specific effect, blocked by the α\sb1 antagonist prazosin. This data was the first to demonstrate that the specific activation of hypothalamic α\sb1 adrenoceptors sharply stimulates the release of LHRH. This effect occurred in hypothalami from proestrus and ovariectomized rats with or without estrogen.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Gitzen, James Francis

Contributors dc:contributor

• Ramirez, Victor D.

• Biology, Neuroscience
• Biology, Animal Physiology

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 1990 Gitzen, James Francis

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

AAI9021687
(UMI)AAI9021687

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/20546