Galanin-like peptide as a possible link between metabolism and reproduction in the macaque
Date
2004-04Author
Scarlett, Jarrad M.
Smith, M. Susan
Grove, Kevin L.
Clifton, Donald K.
Cameron, Judy L.
Plant, Tony M.
Steiner, Robert A.
Cunningham, Matthew J.
Shahab, Muhammad
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Galanin-like peptide (GALP) is a hypothalamic neuropeptide that has been
implicated in the control of feeding, metabolism, and reproduction. The
goal of this study was to examine the effects of central infusions of GALP
on GnRH and LH secretion and to identify physiological factors that
influence the expression of GALP mRNA in the brain of a primate species.
Infusions of GALP into the lateral cerebroventricle of the macaque caused
a significant increase in LH secretion, which was blocked by
administration of the GnRH receptor antagonist acyline. However, the
expression of GALP mRNA in the arcuate nucleus, as determined by in situ
hybridization, was not regulated by either estradiol or progesterone.
Compared with feeding ad libitum, fasting for 48 h produced a significant
reduction in the hypothalamic expression of GALP mRNA. GALP neurons were
found to express both neuropeptide Y Y1 receptor and serotonin 2C receptor
by double-label in situ hybridization. Taken together, these results
suggest that GALP neurons play a role of integrating metabolic signals,
which are relayed to circuits controlling GnRH release in the macaque.