Sexually Dimorphic Development and Binding Characteristics of NMDA Receptors in the Brain of the Platyfish

This study investigated age- and gender-specific variations in properties of the glutamate N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) in a freshwater teleost, the platyfish (Xiphophorus maculatus). Prior localization of the immunoreactive (ir)-R1 subunit of the NMDAR protein (R1) in cells of the nucleus...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:General and comparative endocrinology 1999-08, Vol.115 (2), p.282-291
Main Authors: Flynn, Katherine M., Schreibman, Martin P., Yablonsky-Alter, Elena, Banerjee, Shailesh P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
aging
Animals
Brain - growth & development
Brain Chemistry - physiology
Cyprinodontiformes - metabolism
Dizocilpine Maleate - pharmacology
Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists - pharmacology
Female
Freshwater
glutamate
hypothalamus
Immunohistochemistry
Life Sciences (General)
Male
MK-801
Models, Biological
puberty
Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate - metabolism
Sex Characteristics
Space life sciences
Xiphophorus maculatus
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Summary:This study investigated age- and gender-specific variations in properties of the glutamate N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) in a freshwater teleost, the platyfish (Xiphophorus maculatus). Prior localization of the immunoreactive (ir)-R1 subunit of the NMDAR protein (R1) in cells of the nucleus olfactoretinalis (NOR), a primary gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-containing brain nucleus in the platyfish, suggests that NMDAR, as in mammals, is involved in modulation of the platyfish brain-pituitary-gonad (BPG) axis. The current study shows that the number of cells in the NOR displaying ir-R1 is significantly increased in pubescent and mature female platyfish when compared to immature and senescent animals. In males, there is no significant change in ir-R1 expression in the NOR at any time in their lifespan. The affinity of the noncompetitive antagonist (3H)MK-801 for the NMDAR is significantly increased in pubescent females while maximum binding of (3H)MK-801 to the receptor reaches a significant maximum in mature females. In males, both MK-801 affinity and maximum binding remain unchanged throughout development. This is the first report of gender differences in the association of NMDA receptors with neuroendocrine brain areas during development. It is also the first report to suggest NMDA receptor involvement in the development of the BPG axis in a nonmammalian vertebrate.
ISSN:0016-6480
1095-6840
DOI:10.1006/gcen.1999.7317