In the primate, arginine vasopressin (AVP) is known to activate the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis and to inhibit LH secretion. In the present study, we investigate the role of the endogenous opioid peptides and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) in these processes. Adult ovariectomized rhesus monkeys bearing a chronic cannula in the lateral ventricle for intraventricular (i.c.v.) infusion were used. In experiment 1, the effects of 5-hour i.c.v. infusions of saline (n = 7), AVP (50 µg/h, n = 7), naloxone (2 mg bolus + 2 mg/h i.v., n = 4) and AVP plus naloxone (n = 4) on LH and cortisol secretion were investigated. As compared to saline and naloxone alone, LH pulse frequency was significantly decreased by AVP (p < 0.05) and by 5 h, the mean LH expressed as a percentage from the 3-hour baseline was also significantly reduced (saline 100.9 ± 5.1%; naloxone 112.3 ± 2.9%; AVP 63.3 ± 8.2%). Coadministration of naloxone abolished the effects of AVP on LH (107.3 ± 12.1% of baseline). AVP increased cortisol secretion (p < 0.05 vs. baseline), but naloxone did not prevent the increase. In experiment 2, the LH and cortisol responses to AVP were compared in the absence and presence of a CRH antagonist. The antagonist was infused intraventricularly at two doses: 60 and 180 µg/h. At both doses, the inhibitory effect of AVP on LH was significantly attenuated (at 4 h, 86.9 ± 3.2% of baseline; NS vs. saline). However, the CRH antagonist did not block the AVP-induced increase in cortisol. The results confirm previous evidence in the primate of a role of vasopressin in inhibiting the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis and demonstrate a role of hypothalamic opioid peptides in this process. They also demonstrate that, although CRH is a prerequisite for AVP’s action on the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis, AVP can stimulate the adrenal axis in the primate in the presence of decreased CRH activity.

Keywords:
Vasopressin, Gonadotropins, Corticotropin-releasing hormone, Corticotropin-releasing hormone antagonist, Stress, Adrenal steroids, Primates, Naloxone, Ovariectomy
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© 1996 S. Karger AG, Basel
1996
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