Gender-specific apposition between vasoactive intestinal peptide-containing axons and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone-producing neurons in the rat

Brain Res. 1998 Jun 8;795(1-2):277-81. doi: 10.1016/s0006-8993(98)00208-x.

Abstract

Light microscopic double labeling immunocytochemistry for vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) was carried out on the hypothalami of male and female rats. It was found that the number of VIP boutons that terminate on GnRH neurons and the percentage of GnRH neurons contacted by VIP axons were higher in females than in males. This sexual dimorphic interaction of VIP fibers and GnRH neurons may indicate the involvement of VIP in the gender-specific regulation of gonadotrophin release in rats.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Axons / chemistry*
  • Axons / metabolism
  • Estrus / physiology*
  • Female
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / analysis*
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / biosynthesis
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / metabolism
  • Male
  • Neurons / chemistry
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Neurons / ultrastructure
  • Preoptic Area / chemistry*
  • Preoptic Area / cytology
  • Preoptic Area / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Sex Characteristics
  • Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / analysis*

Substances

  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
  • Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide