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Kisspeptin innervation of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus: sexual dimorphism and effect of estrous cycle in female mice
Author(s) -
Marraudino Marilena,
Miceli Dèsirèe,
Farinetti Alice,
Ponti Giovanna,
Panzica GianCarlo,
Gotti Stefano
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of anatomy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.932
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1469-7580
pISSN - 0021-8782
DOI - 10.1111/joa.12603
Subject(s) - kisspeptin , estrous cycle , medicine , endocrinology , arcuate nucleus , hypothalamus , arc (geometry) , biology , energy homeostasis , sexual dimorphism , nucleus , neuropeptide , gonadotropin releasing hormone , luteinizing hormone , hormone , neuroscience , receptor , obesity , geometry , mathematics
The hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus ( PVN ) is the major autonomic output area of the hypothalamus and a critical regulatory center for energy homeostasis. The organism's energetic balance is very important for both the regular onset of puberty and regulation of fertility. Several studies have suggested a relationship among neural circuits controlling food intake, energy homeostasis and the kisspeptin peptide. The kisspeptin system is clustered in two main groups of cell bodies [the anterior ventral periventricular region ( AVPV ) and the arcuate nucleus ( ARC )] projecting mainly to gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (Gn RH ) neurons and to a few other locations, including the PVN . In the present study, we investigated the distribution of the kisspeptin fibers within the PVN of adult CD 1 mice. We observed a significant sexual dimorphism for AVPV and ARC , as well as for the PVN innervation. Kisspeptin fibers showed a different density within the PVN , being denser in the medial part than in the lateral one; moreover, in female, the density changed, according to different phases of the estrous cycle (the highest density being in estrus phase). The presence of a profound effect of estrous cycle on the kisspeptin immunoreactivity in AVPV (with a higher signal in estrus) and ARC , and the strong co‐localization between kisspeptin and NkB only in ARC and not in PVN suggested that the majority of the kisspeptin fibers found in the PVN might arise directly from AVPV .