Reduction of arcuate kappa-opioid receptor-expressing cells increased luteinizing hormone pulse frequency in female rats.

The brain mechanism responsible for the pulsatile secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is important for maintaining reproductive function in mammals. Accumulating evidence suggests that kisspeptin/neurokinin B/dynorphin A (KNDy) neurons in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC) play a critical role in the regulation of pulsatile GnRH and subsequent gonadotropin secretion. Dynorphin A (Dyn) and its receptor, kappa-opioid receptor (KOR, encoded by Oprk1), have been shown to be involved in the suppression of pulsatile GnRH/luteinizing hormone (LH) release. On the other hand, it is still unclear whether the inhibitory Dyn signaling affects KNDy neurons or KOR-expressing non-KNDy cells in the ARC or other brain regions. We therefore aimed to clarify the role of ARC-specific Dyn-KOR signaling in the regulation of pulsatile GnRH/LH release by the ARC specific cell deletion of KOR-expressing cells using Dyn-conjugated-saporin (Dyn-SAP). Estrogen-primed ovariectomized female rats were administered Dyn-SAP to the ARC. In situ hybridization of Oprk1 showed that ARC Dyn-SAP administration significantly decreased the number of Oprk1-expressing cells in the ARC, but not in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus and paraventricular nucleus. The frequency of LH pulses significantly increased in animals bearing the ARC Dyn-SAP administration. The number of Kiss1-expressing cells in the ARC was not affected by ARC Dyn-SAP treatment. Dyn-KOR signaling within the ARC seems to mediate the suppression of the frequency of pulsatile GnRH/LH release, and ARC non-KNDy KOR neurons may be involved in the mechanism modulating GnRH/LH pulse generation.

SB223412, a neurokinin-3 receptor-selective antagonist, suppresses testosterone secretion in male guinea pigs.

Guinea pigs are important zoo animals and have been recommended for animal-assisted activities or therapy, however there are problems concerning testosterone inducing aggressive or sexual behaviors in male guinea pigs. Testicular testosterone secretion is regulated by pulsatile gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH)/luteinizing hormone (LH) release in mammals. The mechanism generating GnRH/LH pulses is thought to be governed by kisspeptin neurons, which coexpress neurokinin B (NKB) and dynorphin A (Dyn), in the arcuate nucleus (ARC). Kisspeptin neurons in the ARC are frequently referred to as KNDy neurons. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the antagonization of NKB-neurokinin-3 receptor (NK3R) signaling can manipulate testosterone secretion in male guinea pigs. A single subcutaneous administration or 7 days of oral administration of an NK3R-selective antagonist, SB223412 (50 mg/body), significantly decreased plasma testosterone levels in male guinea pigs. In vitro binding assays confirmed that SB223412 has a high affinity to guinea pig NK3R. These results suggest that SB223412 could be used as an orally-available compound to suppress testosterone levels in male guinea pigs. Double labeling in situ hybridization of kisspeptin and either NKB or Dyn showed that kisspeptin-expressing neurons contained NKB (77.9%) or Dyn (62.3%) in the ARC, suggesting the presence of KNDy neurons in the ARC of guinea pigs. In conclusion, the present study shows that SB223412 could be a candidate compound to suppress testosterone secretion in male guinea pigs for controlling sexual and aggressive behaviors in the species.