The effect of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), a serotonin precursor, and p-chloroamphetamine (PCA), a serotonin neurotoxin, selective for serotoninergic neurons, that depletes serotonin (5-HT) levels in brain, on the luteinizing hormone (LH) release response to estrogen-progesterone (E-P) was studied in prepubertal female rats of different ages. E-P decreased LH levels on days 16, 18 and 20, increasing the levels of the pituitary hormone at day 26 of age. Destruction of the serotoninergic system advanced the onset of the positive feed-back mechanism, since the rats pretreated with PCA showed at day 20 an LH release by E-P administration while in the controls of the same age the ovarian hormones decreased the LH concentration. On the other hand, PCA potentiated the positive feed-back mechanism of E-P on LH in 26-day-old rats, while at this age the LH release response to E-P was significantly reduced by the administration of 5-HTP. These results suggest that the serotoninergic system has an inhibitory effect on the development of the positive feed-back of ovarian steroids on LH secretion, that could be representative of a regulatory participation of serotonin in the onset of puberty. 5-HTP stimulated LH release on days 16, 18 and 20, but did not modify the LH concentration of day 26. Since between 20 and 26 days of age the positive feed-back mechanism matures, the possibility arise that the modification in the effect of serotonin on LH release on day 26 is connected with the physiological changes in the gonadotropin control that occur after day 20 in the female rat.

Keywords:
Serotonin, Puberty, Positive feed-back, Estrogen, Luteinizing hormone`
This content is only available via PDF.
© 1985 S. Karger AG, Basel
1985
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.