Action of neurotensin, corticotropin-releasing hormone, and RFamide-related peptide-3 in E2-induced negative feedback control: studies using a mouse arcuate nucleus hypothalamic cell model

Biol Reprod. 2018 Dec 1;99(6):1216-1226. doi: 10.1093/biolre/ioy145.

Abstract

The recently established immortalized hypothalamic cell model mHypoA-55 possesses characteristics similar to those of Kiss-1 neurons in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) region of the hypothalamus. Here, we show that Kiss-1 gene expression in these cells was downregulated by 17β-estradiol (E2) under certain conditions. Both neurotensin (NT) and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) were expressed in these cells and upregulated by E2. Stimulation of mHypoA-55 cells with NT and CRH significantly decreased Kiss-1 mRNA expression. A mammalian gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone homolog, RFamide-related peptide-3 (RFRP-3), was also found to be expressed in mHypoA-55 cells, and RFRP-3 expression in these cells was increased by exogenous melatonin stimulation. E2 stimulation also upregulated RFRP-3 expression in these cells. Stimulation of mHypoA-55 cells with RFRP-3 significantly increased the expression of NT and CRH. Furthermore, melatonin stimulation resulted in the increase of both NT and CRH mRNA expression in mHypoA-55 cells. On the other hand, in experiments using mHypoA-50 cells, which were originally derived from hypothalamic neurons in the anteroventral periventricular nucleus, Kiss-1 gene expression was upregulated by both NT and CRH, although E2 increased both NT and CRH expression, similarly to the mHypoA-55 cells. Our observations using the hypothalamic ARC cell model mHypoA-55 suggest that NT and CRH have inhibitory effects on Kiss-1 gene expression under the influence of E2 in association with RFRP-3 expression. Thus, these neuropeptides might be involved in E2-induced negative feedback mechanisms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus / cytology*
  • Cell Line
  • Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / genetics
  • Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / metabolism
  • Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / pharmacology*
  • Estradiol / pharmacology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Kisspeptins / genetics
  • Kisspeptins / metabolism
  • Melatonin / pharmacology
  • Mice
  • Neuropeptides / genetics
  • Neuropeptides / metabolism
  • Neuropeptides / pharmacology*
  • Neurotensin / genetics
  • Neurotensin / metabolism
  • Neurotensin / pharmacology*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism

Substances

  • Kisspeptins
  • Neuropeptides
  • RFamide peptide
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Neurotensin
  • Estradiol
  • Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone
  • Melatonin