Direct Regulation of Postnatal GnRH Neurons by the Progesterone Derivative Allopregnanolone in the Mouse

The mechanisms through which gonadal steroids exert critical feedback actions upon the activity of the GnRH neurons are not understood. We have examined here whether progesterone may modulate the electrical activity of the GnRH neurons following its rapid metabolism to the neuroactive steroid allopr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Endocrinology (Philadelphia) 2001-10, Vol.142 (10), p.4448-4453
Main Authors: Sim, Joan A, Skynner, Michael J, Herbison, Allan E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bicuculline
Brain
Brain slice preparation
Females
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone
Membrane potential
Neurons
Postpartum period
Pregnanolone
Progesterone
Sex hormones
Steroids
Tetrodotoxin
γ-Aminobutyric acid A receptors
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Summary:The mechanisms through which gonadal steroids exert critical feedback actions upon the activity of the GnRH neurons are not understood. We have examined here whether progesterone may modulate the electrical activity of the GnRH neurons following its rapid metabolism to the neuroactive steroid allopregnanolone within the brain. Using an acute brain slice preparation, whole-cell, patch-clamp recordings were made from GnRH neurons of juvenile (postnatal d 15–20) and adult (postnatal d 60–70) female mice in the presence of tetrodotoxin. Progesterone (1 μm) was not observed to have any actions (up to 5 min exposure) upon GnRH neurons. However, allopregnanolone (500 nm-1 μm) exerted rapid (
ISSN:0013-7227
1945-7170
DOI:10.1210/endo.142.10.8451