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Age-related alterations in the stimulated release in vitro of catecholamines and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone from the male rat hypothalamus

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Abstract

Using an in vitro perifusion system, the present study investigated the possibility that alterations in catecholamine and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) secretion from the male rat mediobasal hypothalamus are present during the period of middle-age. The results indicate that, while tissue concentrations and baseline secretion of norepinephrine, dopamine and LHRH were similar between age groups, the patterns of dopamine and LHRH release in response to a series of depolarizing stimuli was different in the older animals. After all challenges, dopamine concentrations in the perifusate declined much more sharply for the middle-aged group, a finding that may be associated with a decrease with age in the pool of transmitter available for ready release. Also, tissue fragments from young adult rats were able to maintain the release of LHRH to a greater extent than tissue from the middle-aged animals, but only for the initial challenge period. The typical episodic pattern of LHRH release appeared to be disrupted in the older group following a second stimulus. It is possible that these age-related changes are early components of a dysruption in the hypothalamic mechanisms governing gonadotropin secretion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MD-72, Reproductive Toxicology Branch, Health Effects Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 27711, Research Triangle Park, N.C.

    Jerome M. Goldman, Ralph L. Cooper, Georgia L. Rehnberg, W. Keith McElroy & Joy Hein

  2. Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triagle Park, N.C.

    Scott Gabel

  3. Department of Pharmacology, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Ia.

    P. Michael Conn

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  1. Jerome M. Goldman
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The research described in this article has been reviewed by the Health Effects Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and approved for publication. Approval does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Agency, nor does mention of trade name or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.

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Goldman, J.M., Cooper, R.L., Rehnberg, G.L. et al. Age-related alterations in the stimulated release in vitro of catecholamines and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone from the male rat hypothalamus. Neurochem Res 12, 651–657 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00971015

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