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Estradiol-17β modulates dose-dependently hypothalamic tyrosine hydroxylase activity inhibited by α-methylparatyrosine in the catfish Heteropneustes fossilis

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Abstract

The brain is a target for organizational and activational effects of oestrogens synthesized de novo or transported from the peripheral organs. A neuroprotective role of oestrogens has been documented in a variety of vertebrates. In the present study in the catfish Heteropneustes fossilis, we have demonstrated that estradiol-17β (E2), the major circulating oestrogen at low dosages (0.05 and 0.1 μg/g body weight of fish for 3 days) stimulated hypothalamic tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity, and countered the negative effects of ovariectomy (3-week) or α-methylparatyrosine (α-MPT: 250 μg/g body weight, a competitive inhibitor of TH). In contrast, high dosages of E2 (1 and 2 μg/g body weight of fish for 3 days) were inhibitory and further amplified the inhibitory effects of ovariectomy and α-MPT. The inhibiting role of E2 was higher in gonad-active (prespawning) phase than gonad-inactive (resting phase) phase. The dual roles of E2 may ensure a tight regulation of catecholaminergic activity, activating and inhibiting the system against wide fluctuations that are characteristic of seasonally breeding animals.

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Acknowledgement

R. Chaube thanks the CSIR, New Delhi for financial assistance.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

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  1. Department of Zoology, Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India

    Radha Chaube

  2. Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India

    Keerikkattil P. Joy

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  1. Radha Chaube
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Correspondence to Keerikkattil P. Joy.

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Chaube, R., Joy, K.P. Estradiol-17β modulates dose-dependently hypothalamic tyrosine hydroxylase activity inhibited by α-methylparatyrosine in the catfish Heteropneustes fossilis . Endocrine 40, 394–399 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-011-9543-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-011-9543-5

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