Document Detail


Sex steroid effects on the development and functioning of the growth hormone axis.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  8818398     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
1. The secretory pattern of growth hormone (GH) is sexually dimorphic in the adult rat. However, this difference between the sexes does not become apparent until after the onset of puberty, suggesting that pubertal sex steroids play an important role in the manifestation of this phenomenon. 2. We have addressed the question as to whether there exists a sexual dimorphism in the hypothalamic neuropeptides that regulate GH release from the anterior pituitary, i.e., somatostatin (SS) and growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). In addition, we have investigated whether the developmental changes in the GH secretory pattern are correlated with changes in these neuropeptides. The effect of testosterone treatment on SS and GHRH neurons during both the neonatal period and adulthood have also been studied. 3. We have found that the synthetic capacity, as reflected in relative messenger RNA (mRNA) levels, of both SS and GHRH neurons changes throughout development in both male and female rats. These mRNA levels are sexually dimorphic at certain times during maturation and can be modulated by changes in testosterone levels, suggesting that sex steroid modulation of these two neuropeptide systems could at least partially account for the sexual dimorphism seen in the adult GH secretory pattern. 4. The neonatal steroid environment has also been suggested to be involved in the generation of the final adult GH secretory pattern, although the mechanisms underlying this effect are even less well understood. In support of the hypothesis that the neonatal steroid environment plays an important role in organizing the GH axis, we have found that the number of GHRH neurons in the adult brain, as well as their sensitivity to adult steroids, is modulated by neonatal testosterone treatment. The number of SS neurons in the periventricular and paraventricular nuclei were not modulated by neonatal steroids; however, the synthetic capacity of these neurons does appear to be influenced by the neonatal steroid environment. 5. These studies suggest that both the neonatal and adult sex steroid environments influence the adult GH secretory pattern by modulating GHRH and SS neurons.
Authors:
J A Chowen; L M García-Segura; S González-Parra; J Argente
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Review    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Cellular and molecular neurobiology     Volume:  16     ISSN:  0272-4340     ISO Abbreviation:  Cell. Mol. Neurobiol.     Publication Date:  1996 Jun 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1996-12-31     Completed Date:  1996-12-31     Revised Date:  2006-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8200709     Medline TA:  Cell Mol Neurobiol     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  297-310     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Instituto Cajal, C.S.I.C, Madrid, Spain.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
Animals, Newborn
Castration
Cells, Cultured
Estradiol / pharmacology*
Female
Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / secretion*
Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / drug effects*,  growth & development,  secretion
Male
Neurons / drug effects
RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis,  genetics
Rats
Sex Characteristics*
Sexual Maturation
Somatostatin / secretion*
Testosterone / pharmacology*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/RNA, Messenger; 50-28-2/Estradiol; 51110-01-1/Somatostatin; 58-22-0/Testosterone; 9034-39-3/Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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