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Effects of Ovariectomy on GnRH Neuronal Morphology inRhesus Monkey ( Macaca mulatta )
Author(s) -
Witkin Joan W.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of neuroendocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.062
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1365-2826
pISSN - 0953-8194
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2826.1996.tb00694.x
Subject(s) - medicine , endocrinology , hormone , gonadal hormones , gonadotropin releasing hormone , biology , testosterone (patch) , hypothalamus , receptor , gonadotropin , hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis , castration , luteinizing hormone
Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons are typically simple, fusiform cells; however, over the course of prepubertal development increasing numbers take on a ‘spiny’ appearance. Following gonadectomy there is a decrease in the frequency of these spiny GnRH neurons. These observations which were made in the rat suggest that GnRH neurons are directly affected by the gonadal steroid milieu, though they do not themselves contain receptors for these steroidal hormones. In that there are important species differences in the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐gonadal axis between rats and primates, the present study was undertaken to determine whether a reduction in ovarian hormones would produce similar changes in the morphology of GnRH neurons in the monkey. A further aim was to determine whether such changes were localized to a specific brain region.