Phorbol esters potentiate rapid dopamine release from median eminence and striatal synaptosomes

In the present study, we investigated the ability of phorbol esters to potentiate Ca2+-dependent depolarization-induced release of tritium-labeled dopamine ([3H]DA) from median eminence and striatal synaptosomes. Phorbol esters potentiated [3H]DA release in a concentration-dependent manner in both kinds of dopaminergic nerve terminals and with a potency series similar to that reported for stimulation of protein kinase-C (PKC) activity in other cell systems. Evoked [3H]DA release was increased by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA; 10(-7) M) after 1, 3, 5, and 10 sec of depolarization. The effect of TPA was suppressed by sphingosine, a PKC inhibitor. TPA enhanced [3H]DA release evoked by high K+, veratridine or the Ca2+ ionophore A23187. Phorbol ester potentiation was found to be depolarization dependent, as it was present from 30-75 mM, but not at 5-20 mM external K+. Potentiation was seen at all external Ca2+ concentrations studied between 0.01-3 mM. However, in the absence of external free Ca2+ (i.e. with 0.1 mM EGTA), the phorbol effect was not present. These data indicate that an increase in intrasynaptosomal Ca2+ concentration is necessary for the enhancement of [3H]DA release by phorbol esters to occur. The combination of TPA and the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 does not show the marked synergism observed in some other systems, that is maximal release was not reinstated. This suggests that in dopaminergic nerve terminals, activation of PKC has a modulatory, rather than a mediating, effect on release. Recently, we have shown that hyperprolactinemia stimulated [3H]DA release from median eminence synaptosomes by an external Ca2+-independent mechanism which might involve the PKC pathway. However, in the present work we found that the TPA and PRL effects on evoked [3H]DA release were additive, suggesting that two independent mechanisms are involved. A marked difference in the sensitivity of median eminence and striatal synaptosomes to calcium ionophore was discovered. The concentration of A23187 required to support significant [3H]DA release from median eminence synaptosomes was 3-fold greater than that in striatal synaptosomes. This suggests that some difference in calcium homeostatic processes exists, such as a higher resting striatal Ca2+ concentration, in these two kinds of dopaminergic nerve terminals. These data support the hypothesis that PKC activation potentiates the intrasynaptosomal stimulus-secretion coupling mechanism(s) and that nigrostriatal and tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic nerve terminals are affected by phorbol esters in a similar manner.     

Uptake and autoreceptor-controlled release of [3H]-GABA by the hypothalamic median eminence and pituitary neurointermediate lobe

The uptake and release of gamma-[3H]-aminobutyric acid ([3H]-GABA) by the median eminence and the neurointermediate lobe of the pituitary was investigated using sucrose homogenates as crude synaptosomal preparations. Uptake in both areas showed predominantly neuronal specificity and similar Km values, but the median eminence had a considerably greater Vmax value. Release of [3H]-GABA could be stimulated by elevated K+ concentrations, in a Ca2+-dependent manner. Stimulated release was reduced by muscimol, implying the existence of presynaptic autoreceptors in both areas. A number of other transmitters and peptide hormones were demonstrated to have no effect on stimulated release of [3H]-GABA in either area.     

Opioid-receptor-mediated inhibition of [3H]dopamine but not [3H]noradrenaline release from rat mediobasal hypothalamus slices.

The modulation of the electrically evoked release of [3H]dopamine (DA) and [3H]noradrenaline (NA) by opioid receptor activation was examined in superfused slices of rat mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH). [3H]DA release was inhibited (maximally by 30-35%) by both the selective kappa-agonist U 50,488 (1 nM to 1 microM) and the selective mu-agonist DAGO (0.01-1 microM) but not by the delta-selective agonist DPDPE (1 microM). Naloxone partly antagonized the inhibitory effect of U 50,488 and completely that of DAGO, whereas the selective kappa-antagonist norbinaltorphimine (nor-BNI) only antagonized the inhibition caused by U 50,488. The dopamine D2 receptor agonist quinpirole as well as the alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist oxymetazoline both decreased (by 25-30%) the evoked overflow of [3H]DA. The evoked release of [3H]NA was not modulated by any of the opioid agonists nor by quinpirole. However, the alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist oxymetazoline inhibited the release of [3H]NA by 30-40%. Activation of alpha 2-adrenoceptors by oxymetazoline prevented the inhibitory effect of U 50,488, but not DAGO, on evoked [3H]DA release, whereas the selective kappa-antagonist nor-BNI antagonized the inhibition by oxymetazoline of [3H]DA, but not [3H]NA, release. In conclusion, activation of both kappa- and mu-opioid receptors results in an inhibition of evoked DA release from MBH slices but does not modulate NA release. Therefore, several of the reported effects of opioids on hormone secretion may be an (indirect) consequence of a reduction of DA release.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Binding of [3H]dihydroergocryptine to an alpha-adrenergic site in the stalk median eminence of the steer

Dihydroergocryptine (DHE), a potent dopamine agonist and alpha-adrenergic antagonist, has been used as a radioligand to characterize both dopamine and alpha-adrenergic receptors. In the present study, the binding of [3H]DHE to particulate fractions of the steer stalk median eminence was characterized using a filtration assay. Specific binding was defined by the presence of 10 microM phentolamine or by an iterative nonlinear hyperbolic curve-fitting program. Scatchard analysis of equilibrium isotherms of specific binding defined a single high affinity (Kd = 1.78 +/- 0.22 nM), saturable (maximum binding, 481 +/- 39 fmol/mg protein), stereoselective binding site. The Kd, calculated from the ratio of the rate constants k2 and k1, was 2.8 +/- 0.14 nM. The rank order of potency of agonists to compete for [3H]DHE binding (l-epinephrine greater than l-norepinephrine greater than dopamine greater than l-isoproterenol) was consistent with interactions at an alpha-adrenergic site. The rank order of potency of alpha-antagonists (phentolamine greater than yohimbine greater than prazosin) suggested that this was an alpha 2-adrenergic receptor. The affinity of dopamine agonists for the [3H]DHE-binding site was 10-fold lower relative to their potency at known dopamine receptors, while the affinity of dopaminergic antagonists was 100-fold lower. Furthermore, Scatchard analysis of specific [3H]DHE binding in the presence of a concentration of spiperone which should saturate dopamine receptors, only decreased the number of binding sites by 9%. These data demonstrate the presence of large numbers of alpha-adrenergic receptors in the stalk median eminence of the steer. Only a small number of dopaminergic binding sites for [3H]DHE appeared to be present.     

Involvement of extracellular calcium and arachidonate in [3H] dopamine release from rat tuberoinfundibular neurons

The mechanism of [3H]dopamine [( 3H]DA) release was investigated using primary cultures of dispersed cells from the rat tuberoinfundibular region, which contains tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-like immunoreactive neurons. The calcium ionophore A23187 at 10 nM and above caused a significant and dose-dependent increase in [3H]DA release. In the presence of 50 microM A23187, [3H]DA release was detectable within 30 s and reached a plateau in 15 min. The induction of [3H]DA release by 50 microM A23187 was abolished by lowering the extracellular calcium concentration with 2 mM EDTA. Maitotoxin, another calcium-channel activator, also increased [3H]DA release at a concentration of 50 ng/ml. Exogenous additions of 100 mIU/ml phospholipase A2 and 10 microM arachidonate caused significant release of [3H]DA. Furthermore, A23187 stimulated [3H]arachidonate release from tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic (TIDA) neurons in a dose- and time-dependent manner. These results suggest that extracellular calcium and arachidonate are involved in the process of [3H]DA release from rat TIDA neurons.     

Novel hypothalamic arachidonate products stimulate somatostatin release from the median eminence

Arachidonic acid (AA) stimulates the in vitro release of somatostatin (SRIF) from the hypothalamic median eminence (ME). This effect is inhibited by 5, 8, 11, 14-eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA) but not by indomethacin (ID). Microsomal fractions from the rat hypothalamus catalyze an NADPH-dependent metabolism of AA to form several oxygenated products of which the major metabolites are 5, 6-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (5, 6-EET) and its hydration product, 5, 6-dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acid (5, 6-DHET). Both novel arachidonate metabolites, particularly 5, 6-EET, are potent in vitro stimuli for the release of SRIF. To a lesser extent, 5, 6-EET is also capable of evoking luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) release. The results suggest that these "epoxygenase" metabolites of AA may be physiologically involved in the control of SRIF release.     

Serotonin induces gonadotrophin release through stimulation of LH-releasing hormone release from the median eminence

The effects of serotonin (5-HT) on the release of gonadotrophins and LH-releasing hormone (LHRH) were examined in an in-vitro perifusion system using median eminences and/or anterior pituitaries obtained from male or pro-oestrous female rats. Animals were killed by decapitation between 12.00 and 13.00 h. A serial double-chamber perifusion system was employed. Three types of experiments were performed. In the first, median eminences were placed in the first chamber and one anterior pituitary in the second chamber. In the second group, only the anterior pituitary was perifused. In the third group, only five median eminences were perifused. In the first and second experiments, LH, FSH and prolactin were determined in the perifusion efflux by radio-immunoassay (RIA). In the third experiment, LHRH was determined by RIA. Addition of 5-HT (final concentrations 0.06, 0.6 and 6.0 mumol/l) into the first chamber containing the median eminences stimulated the release of LH and FSH from the pituitary, but did not affect the levels of prolactin in the effluent in the same experiment (pro-oestrous rats). The stimulatory effect of 5-HT was blocked by the addition of cyproheptadine (l mumol/l) in the perifusion fluid. The introduction of 5-HT (0.6 mumol/l) into the tube connecting the first and second chambers did not modify the release of LH, nor did 5-HT added to the pituitaries perifused alone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

In vitro release of vasopressin and oxytocin from rat median eminence tissue

Release of vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT) from rat median eminence and posterior pituitary tissue was studied in vitro by incubation in Krebs-56 mM KCl buffer. Both total tissue content and releasable pool of each hormone was measured in control rats, adrenalectomized rats and dexamethasone-treated rats. Adrenalectomy resulted in significantly increased release of AVP, but not OT, from median eminence tissue, whereas dexamethasone treatment failed to affect release of either hormone. Neither treatment had any effect on AVP or OT release from posterior pituitary tissue. Similarly, neither treatment caused any significant changes in total median eminence or posterior pituitary AVP and OT contents relative to controls, although dexamethasone-treated rats had a significantly lower posterior pituitary OT content than adrenalectomized rats. KCl-stimulated hormone release from median eminence tissue most likely represents an estimate of AVP and OT in zona externa terminals rather than in zona interna axons, because release was blocked by CoCl2 indicating calcium-dependent exocytosis. Immunohistochemical staining of median eminence tissue correlated well with the results of in vitro hormone release, in that increased AVP staining in the zona externa of adrenalectomized rats was also the only significant change noted using this methodology. Since increased levels of releasable AVP in the median eminence probably reflects similarly increased AVP levels in the hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal vessels of adrenalectomized rats, these results support a potential physiologic role for median eminence AVP, but not OT, in the chronic stimulation of adrenocorticotropin hormone secretion following adrenalectomy.     

Short-term treatment with 17-beta estradiol enhances spontaneous [3H] dopamine release from cultured rat tuberoinfundibular neurons

The effects of 17-beta estradiol (E2) on spontaneous [3H] dopamine ([3H]DA) release was investigated using primary cultured cells from the tuberoinfundibular region of rat hypothalamus, which includes DA neurons. [3H] DA uptake by the neurons in the presence of E2 at 10(-8) mol/l was similar to that by control cells. Pretreatment with E2 at 10(-9) mol/l or more resulted in dose-dependent increase in spontaneous [3H] DA release from the cultured hypothalamic cells. The spontaneous [3H] DA release reached almost a plateau on pretreatment with E2 at 10(-9) mol/l for 6 hours. Pretreatment with 1 nM E2 also enhanced DA release induced by 10 microM ionophore A23187. These results indicate that estrogen stimulates tuberoinfundibular DA neuronal activity.     

Morphine and endorphins modulate dopamine turnover in rat median eminence.

The is evidence that some of the actions of both endogenous and exogenous opioids (e.g., stimulation of prolactin release) are mediated by interaction with catecholaminergic systems. Morphine (1.67, 5, and 15 mg/kg of body weight, intraperitoneally) altered dopamine turnover as measured by the alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine method in the median eminence, neostriatum, and frontal cortex of male Sprague-Dawley rats. The turnover rate of dopamine was reduced in the median eminence and frontal cortex but accelerated in the neostriatum. In the frontal cortex all doses were effective in decreasing dopamine turnover; however, in the median eminence the lowest dose of morphine did not significantly alter dopamine turnover. All three doses accelerated dopamine turnover in the neostriatum. Naloxone effectively reversed the effects of morphine at all doses in all brain areas, whereas it had no effect on turnover when given alone. In the median eminence, neostriatum, and frontal cortex, intraventricular injection of [D-Ala2,D-Leu5]-enkephalin (25 micrograms) or beta-endorphin (15 micrograms) produced the same effects on dopamine turnover as morphine. The actions of these peptides were blocked by naloxone. It is hypothesized that opiates and opioid peptides increase prolactin release by reducing the activity of the tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic system.     

Lipoxygenase products of arachidonic acid stimulate LHRH release from rat median eminence

Exogenous arachidonic acid (AA) incubated in presence of male rat hypothalamus, shows a low rate of conversion (less than 1%) of the substrate with a major product, identified as 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) by reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography (rpHPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Furthermore, immunoreactive 12-HETE estimated after purification on rpHPLC is produced by hypothalamus slices or median eminences (MEs) incubated in absence of any exogenous precursor. The effect of 12-HETE was tested on the release of LHRH from rat MEs after a 30-min incubation and was compared to the effect of another lipoxygenase product, 5-HETE, and to the well-known stimulatory effect of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). The three AA metabolites stimulate LHRH release. A significant stimulatory effect on LHRH release is obtained with 10(-9) M of 12-HETE and only with 10(-8) M of 5-HETE or PGE2. Furthermore, the effect of higher concentrations is different according to the eicosanoid tested. The maximal response (176% of the control) is reached with 12-HETE at 10(-8) M. No significant change is observed at 10(-7) and 10(-6) M. The response with 5-HETE is also maximal (162% of the control) at 10(-8) M but decreases significantly (only 117% of the control) at 10(-6) M. The amplitude of the response to PGE2 is larger and higher, reaching a plateau (300% of the control) at 10(-6) M. 12-HETE has no effect on somatostatin (SRIF), release, as already known for PGE2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Predominant release of vasopressin vs. corticotropin-releasing factor from the isolated median eminence after adrenalectomy

In an in vitro system, we have demonstrated concomitant release of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) from the median eminence (ME) of normal and adrenalectomized rats. The ME were incubated in a Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate medium, CRF and AVP released into the medium were measured by radioimmunoassay. The release of both neuropeptides was stimulated by increasing concentrations of potassium (28-56 mM) in the incubation medium, or by addition of veratridine (5-20 microM). In both cases the release process was dependent on the presence of calcium in the incubation medium. Interestingly, potassium-induced release was found to be relatively insensitive to calcium channel antagonists that are potent inhibitors in smooth and cardiac muscle. The sodium channel antagonist, tetrodotoxin (1 microM), completely blocked the effect of veratridine, while no change was seen in the response to potassium. Adrenalectomy increased the ratio of AVP:CRF release from 2:1 in ME removed from sham-operated rats to 8:1 in ME from the adrenalectomized group. We suggest that this ratio of AVP:CRF release may also pertain in vivo, and that AVP could be the predominant corticotropic stimulus in adrenalectomized rats.     

An alternative method for the synthesis of 11-[3H]ketotestosterone and 11β-[3H]hydroxytestosterone from [3H]cortisol

Experimental conditions for the synthesis of radioactive 11-ketotestosterone and 11β-hydroxytestosterone from cortisol of high specific activity are described. For the synthesis of 11-ketotestosterone, cortisol is first oxidized to cortisone with 0.1% aqueous chromic acid. The use of hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases for reduction of intermediates in the reaction sequence from C₂₁ to C₁₉ steroid provides consistently high yields of product.     

Evidence for a spontaneous nitric oxide release from the rat median eminence: influence on gonadotropin-releasing hormone release

The involvement of nitric oxide (NO) as a gaseous neurotransmitter in the hypothalamic control of pituitary LH secretion has been demonstrated. NO, as a diffusible signaling gas, has the ability to control and synchronize the activity of the neighboring cells. NO is secreted at the median eminence (ME), the common termination field for the antehypophysiotropic neurons, under the stimulation of other signaling substances. At the ME, NO stimulates GnRH release from neuroendocrine terminals. The present studies were undertaken to determine whether NO is secreted spontaneously from ME fragments ex vivo and whether its secretion is correlated to GnRH release. To accomplish this, female rats were killed at different time points of the day and/or of the estrous cycle. The spontaneous NO release was monitored in real time, with an amperometric probe, during 4 periods of 30 min, from individual ME fragments (for each time point, n = 4). GnRH levels were measured in parallel for each incubation-period by RIA. The results revealed that NO was released in a pulsatile manner from female ME fragments and, unambiguously, that the amplitude of NO secretion varied markedly across the estrous cycle. Indeed, though the NO pulse period (32 +/- 1 min, n = 36) and duration (21 +/- 2 min, n = 36) did not vary significantly across the estrous cycle, the amplitude of this secretion pulse was significantly higher on proestrus (Pro; 39 +/- 3 nM, n = 20), compared with diestrus (16 +/- 1 nM, n = 8) or estrus (23 +/- 3 nM, n = 8, P < 0.05). The GnRH levels in the incubation medium were positively correlated to NO secretion across the estrous cycle (r = 0.86, P < 0.003, n = 9), confirming that NO and GnRH release are coupled. Furthermore, 5 x 10(-7) M L-N(5)-(1-iminoethyl)ornithine (L-NIO), a NO synthase inhibitor, succeeded in inhibiting the strong NO-GnRH secretory coupling and GnRH release on PRO: Because at this concentration, L-NIO selectively inhibits endothelial NO synthase, the results further demonstrate that the major source of NO involved in GnRH release at the ME is endothelial in origin. Additionally, the induction of a massive NO/GnRH release in 15-day ovariectomized rat treated with estradiol benzoate strongly suggested that estradiol is participating in the stimulation of NO release activity between diestrus II and PRO: The present study is the first demonstrating that ME can spontaneously release NO and that NO's rhythm of secretion varies markedly across the estrous cycle. This pulsatile/cyclic ME NO release may constitute the synchronizing link to anatomically scattered GnRH neurons.     

Enkephalin inhibits dopamine synthesis in vitro in the median eminence portion of rat hypothalamic slices

The effect of enkephalin on dopamine synthesis in vitro in tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic (TIDA) neurons was investigated in rat hypothalamic slices. Dopamine synthesis in vitro in TIDA neurons was estimated by 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) accumulation in the median eminence after incubation of slices with a DOPA decarboxylase inhibitor. The enkephalin agonist [D-Ala2]Met-enkephalinamide (ENKamide) decreased the rate of basal DOPA accumulation in the median eminence portion of hypothalamic slices from ovariectomized rats at concentrations over 2 microM. The inhibitory action of ENKamide was more pronounced in hypothalamic slices from haloperidol-treated rats in which basal DOPA accumulation in the median eminence was stimulated by increased PRL secretion. In contrast, ENKamide decreased neither the rate of depolarization- induced CA2+-dependent DOPA accumulation nor the rate of (Bu)2cAMP- or forskolin-induced DOPA accumulation in the median eminence of normal or haloperidol-treated rats. The rank order of the potencies of enkephalins and their analogs for inhibition of DOPA accumulation in the median eminence was similar to that of their binding capacities for opioid receptors. ENKamide inhibited basal DOPA accumulation even when hypothalamic slices were incubated in Ca2+-free medium to which tetrodotoxin was added or when the median eminence was incubated alone without the remainder of the hypothalamic slice. These results suggest that enkephalin, by acting directly on axon terminals of TIDA neurons in the median eminence, inhibits basal dopamine synthesis.     

Role of arachidonic acid or its metabolites in growth-hormone-releasing factor-induced release of somatostatin from the median eminence

The possible involvement of arachidonic acid (AA) release in growth-hormone-releasing factor (GRF)-induced somatostatin (SRIF) release from the median eminence (ME) of the hypothalamus was evaluated in adult male rats using an in vitro incubation system. The MEs were preincubated with [14C]-AA, then washed and incubated with vehicle or test agents, and the release of SRIF and [14C]-AA into the medium was measured. In the experiments designed only to determine SRIF release, the MEs were first preincubated for 30 min. The medium was then discarded and replaced with fresh buffer or test substances and incubated for 10, 20 and/or 30 min. GRF (10(-10) M) stimulated both AA and SRIF release significantly within 20 min, with maximum release occurring at 30 min. The stimulatory effect of GRF on AA release was coincident with the release of SRIF. A phospholipase A2 inhibitor (10(-6) M, quinacrine) completely abolished the stimulatory effect of GRF on both AA and SRIF release. The release of SRIF induced by GRF was also inhibited by both indomethacin (10(-6) M, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor) and metyrapone (10(-6) M, a cytochrome P-450 inhibitor). On the other hand, nordihydroguaiaretic acid (10(-6) M, a lipoxygenase inhibitor) had no effect on GRF-evoked SRIF release. The data presented here suggest that an important GRF-mediated event leading to SRIF secretion is an elevated release of AA from ME fragments in vitro. In conclusion, our data are suggestive that the stimulatory effect of GRF on SRIF release is due, in part, to the release and subsequent metabolism of AA to one or more metabolites.     

Regulation of gonadotropin releasing hormone release by neuropeptide Y at the median eminence during the preovulatory period in ewes

The median eminence (ME) of the hypothalamus is known to be an important brain site where hypophysiotropic release might be regulated by excitatory and inhibitory signals impinging on their neuronal terminals. Since a role for neuropeptide Y (NPY) on preovulatory luteinizing hormone (LH) release has been suggested, we hypothesized that NPY might act at the ME to control preovulatory gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) release and thus the onset of the preovulatory surge of LH. To examine this possibility, we used the ewe as an animal model to determine: (a) immunocytochemical distribution of GnRH and NPY in the ewe ME; (b) changes in in vivo release of NPY and GnRH using ME push-pull cannula (PPC) perfusate samples, as well as in plasma LH, during the luteal, follicular and preovulatory phases of a synchronized estrous cycle, and (c) effects of ME perfusion of NPY or a Y1-NPY antagonist, or an NPY antiserum on in vivo release of ME-GnRH and plasma LH during a synchronized follicular phase. Immunolocalization reveals a dense plexus of beaded GnRH-containing neurites in the arcuate nucleus and in its vicinity, the pituitary stalk and the palisade. In contrast, a dense plexus of NPY-containing neurites occurs in the internal layer, with occasional fibers found in the intermediate and lateral external zone of the ME. In the area between the lateral internal and lateral external layers, both NPY and GnRH-containing processes were found, thus providing opportunities for synaptic and/or paracrine interactions between NPY- and GnRH-containing neurons. Hormonal analysis indicated that a synchronized preovulatory surge of LH is elicited within a 2-hour window by the sequential implantation and removal of silastic-encased estradiol (E2) or progesterone (P4) implants. In this paradigm, there was a parallel increase in ME release of both NPY and GnRH preceding the synchronized LH surge. The onset of this synchronized LH surge was advanced by ME perfusion of exogenous NPY and was both delayed and blunted by ME perfusion with the NPY antagonist (both were perfused through the PPC probe for 2 h, starting 2-3 h before the expected onset of the LH surge). In addition, NPY perfusion in the ME increases, while perfusion of the Y1-NPY antagonist or of the NPY antiserum decreases ME-PPC GnRH content and plasma levels of LH in early follicular ewes. Finally, perfusion of NPY antiserum during an ongoing LH surge disrupted LH release. These results suggest that interactions between NPY and GnRH neurons are important in controlling the timing, magnitude and maintenance of the preovulatory LH surge.