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A subpopulation of gonadotropin‐releasing hormone neurons in the adult mouse forebrain is γ‐Aminobutyric acidergic
Author(s) -
Zhu Jiao,
Xu Xiaohui,
Knight Gillian E.,
He Cheng,
Burnstock Geoffrey,
Xiang Zhenghua
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of neuroscience research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.72
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1097-4547
pISSN - 0360-4012
DOI - 10.1002/jnr.23610
Subject(s) - forebrain , medicine , endocrinology , biology , estrous cycle , gonadotropin releasing hormone , estrogen , glutamate decarboxylase , castration , hormone , luteinizing hormone , central nervous system , enzyme , biochemistry
Gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons play a pivotal role in reproductive function. GnRH is released in distinct pulses that are regulated by neurotransmitters or neuromodulators. With immunohistochemistry and GAD67‐GFP knockin mice, this study shows for the first time that a subset of GnRH neurons in the forebrain of adult mouse is γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)‐ergic. There is a gender difference in the percentage of GnRH neurons expressing GAD67‐GFP in female vs. male mice. The percentage of GnRH neurons expressing GAD67‐GFP decreased after castration of female mice and increased to the normal female level after estradiol treatment. The percentage of GnRH neurons expressing GAD67‐GFP did not change significantly in intact, castrated, or castration + testosterone propionate‐treated male mice. During the female estrous cycle, the percentage of GnRH neurons expressing GAD67‐GFP was higher during the estrous stage than during the diestrous stage. During sexual maturation of postnatal development, GnRH neurons did not express GAD67‐GFP until postnatal day (P) 15, and the gender differences were first detected at P30, which corresponds to the maturation stage. In conclusion, our data suggest that 1) a subset of GnRH neurons in mouse forebrain is GABA‐ergic, 2) expression of GAD67‐GFP in GnRH neurons is at least in part regulated by estrogen, and 3) GnRH neurons secrete GABA to regulate themselves. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.