Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

LHRH-immunoreactive structures in the sheep brain

  • Published:
Histochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Neural structures containing luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) are characterized in adult ewe and female lamb brains. Three anti-LHRH antisera are used in an immunofluorescent or immunoperoxidase method. On our preparations, all three gave the same results, expressed as number of labelled cells (about 2500 in a whole brain). It was found that 95% of the LHRH-immunoreactive cells are located in the preoptico-hypothalamic area, where cell bodies are localized mainly (50%) in the area surrounding the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis (OVLT); they are also found in a more anterior section of the medial part of the olfactory tubercle and the medial septum (14%), in a more posterior situation in the anterior and lateral hypothalamus (16%), and in the mediobasal hypothalamus (15%). Fibres originating in various part of the whole preoptico-hypothalamic group reach the OVLT and the median eminence. The remaining cells (5%) and fibres are found in various tel-, di-, and mesencephalic areas.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adelman JP, Mason AJ, Hayflick JS, Seeburg PH (1986) Isolation of the gene and hypothalamic cDNA for the common precursor of gonadotropin-releasing hormone and prolactin release-inhibiting factor in human and rat. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 83:179–183

    Google Scholar 

  • Advis JP, Kuljis RO, Dey GS (1985) Distribution of LHRH content and total LHRH-degrading activity (LHRH-DA) in the hypothalamus of the ewe. Endocrinology 116:2410–2418

    Google Scholar 

  • Barry J (1978) Septo-epithalamo-habenular LRF-reactive neurons in monkeys. Brain Res 151:183–187

    Google Scholar 

  • Barry J (1979) Immunohistochemistry of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone-producing neurons of the vertebrates. Int Rev Cytol 60:179–221

    Google Scholar 

  • Barry J, Dubois MP, Poulain P (1973) LRF producing cells of the mammalian hypothalamus. Z Zellforsch 146:351–366

    Google Scholar 

  • Barry J, Poulain P, Carette B (1976) Systématisation et efférences des neurones à LHRH chez les primates. Ann Endocrinol 37:227–234

    Google Scholar 

  • Barry J, Hoffman GE, Wray S (1985) LHRH-containing systems. In: Bjorklund A, Hökfelt T (eds) Handbook of chemical neuroanatomy. Vol 4; GABA and neuropeptides in the CNS, part I. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 166–215

    Google Scholar 

  • Coons AH (1958) Fluorescent antibody methods. In: Danielli JF (ed) General cytochemical methods. Academic Press, New York, pp 399–422

    Google Scholar 

  • Crosby EC, Humphrey T, Lauer EW (1962) Correlative anatomy of the nervous system. McMillan, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Curtis A, Fink G (1983) A high molecular weight precursor of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone from rat hypothalamus. Endocrinology 112:390–392

    Google Scholar 

  • Dees WL, Sorensen Jr AM, Kemp WM, McArthur NH (1981) Immunohistochemical localization of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in the brain and infundibulum of the sheep. Cell Tissue Res 215:181–191

    Google Scholar 

  • Diepen RBFM (1941) The hypothalamic nuclei and their ontogenic development in ungulates (Ovis aries). Thesis, Van Gorcum

  • Domanski E, Przekop F, Polkowska J (1980) Hypothalamic centres involved in the control of gonadotropin secretion. J Reprod Fertil 58:493–499

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubois MP, Barry J (1974) Répartition comparée de trois neurofacteurs hypothalamiques: LHRF, SRIF et neurophysine dans l'hypothalamus et l'éminence médiane: étude en immunofluorescence. Ann Endocrinol 35:663–664

    Google Scholar 

  • Gautron JP, Pattou E, Kordon C (1981) Occurrence of higher molecular forms of LHRH in fractionated extracts from rat hypothalamus cortex and placenta. Mol Cell Endocrinol 24:1–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Glas JD, Mastran T, Nett TM (1986) Effects of estradiol and progesterone on the gonadatropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-immunoreactive neuronal system of the anoestrous ewe. Brain Res 381:336–344

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman DL, Baker BL, Foster DL (1978) Distribution of gonadotropin-releasing hormone in the median eminence of sheep as revealed by immunocytochemistry. Anat Rec 190:424

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman GE, Knigge KM, Moynihan JA, Melnyk V, Arimura AA (1978a) Neuronal fields containing luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) in mouse brain. Neuroscience 3:219–231

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman GE, Melnyk V, Hayes T, Bennett-Clarke C, Fowler E (1978b) Immunocytology of LHRH neurons. In: Scott DE, Kozlowski GP, Weindl A (eds) Brain-endocrine interaction, vol. III. Neural hormones and reproduction. Karger, Basel, pp 67–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Ibata Y, Watanabe K, Kimura H, Sano Y, Sin S, Hashimura E, Imagawa K (1978) Distribution of LHRH nerve endings in the median eminence of proestrus female rats: fluorescence and peroxidase anti-peroxidase (PAP) immunohistochemistry. Endocrinol Jpn 25:141–148

    Google Scholar 

  • Ibata Y, Okamura H, Fukui K, Obatatsuto HL, Tanaka M, Kimura H, Hashimura E, Sin S, Imagawa K (1983) The luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) neuron system in the rat central nervous system: an immunohistochemical study. Biomed Res 4:161–168

    Google Scholar 

  • Izard MK (1983) Pheromones and reproduction in domestic animals. In: Vandenbergh JG (ed) Pheromones and reproduction in mammals. Academic Press, New York, pp 253–285

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson GL, Kuehl D, McDowell K, Zaleski A (1978) Effect of hypothalamic deafferentation on secretion of luteinizing hormone in the ewe. Biol Reprod 17:808–819

    Google Scholar 

  • Jennes L, Stumpf WE (1980) LHRH-systems in the brain of the golden hamster. Cell Tissue Res 209:239–256

    Google Scholar 

  • King JC, Anthony ELP (1983) Biosynthesis of LHRH: inferences from immunocytochemical studies. Peptides 4:963–970

    Google Scholar 

  • König JFR, Klippel RA (1967) The rat brain. A stereotaxic atlas. Williams and Wilkins, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Kozlowski GP, Zimmerman EA (1974) Localization of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in sheep and mouse brain. Anat Rec 178:396

    Google Scholar 

  • Kozlowski GP, Hostetter G (1978) Cellular and subcellular localization and behavioural effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in the rat. In: Scott DE, Kozlowski GP, Weindl A (eds) Brain-endocrine interaction, vol. III. Neural hormones and reproduction. Karger, Basel, pp 138–153

    Google Scholar 

  • Legan SL, Winans SS (1981) The photoneuroendocrine control of seasonal breeding in the ewe. Gen Comp Endocrinol 45:317–328

    Google Scholar 

  • Lehman MN, Robinson JE, Karsch FJ, Silverman AJ (1986) Immunocytochemical localization of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) pathways in the sheep brain during anestrus and the mid-luteal phase of the estrous cycle. J Comp Neurol 244:19–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Léranth C, Segura LMG, Palkovits M, McLusky NJ, Shanabrough M, Naftolin F (1985) The LH-RH-containing neuronal network in the preoptic area of the rat: demonstration of LH-RH-containing nerve terminals in synaptic contact with LH-RH neurons. Brain Res 345:332–336

    Google Scholar 

  • McKinley MJ, Denton DA, Leventer M, Penschow J, Weisinger RS, Wright RD (1983) Morphology of the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis (OVLT) of the sheep. Brain Res Bull 11:649–657

    Google Scholar 

  • Merchenthaler I, Göres T, Sétáló G (1982) Neurons containing luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone in the indusium griseum of the rat. Acta Morphol Acad Sci Hung 30:151–156

    Google Scholar 

  • Millar RP, Aehnelt C, Rossier G (1977) Higher molecular weight immunoreactive species of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone: possible precursors of the hormone. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 74:720–731

    Google Scholar 

  • Naik DV (1975a) Immunoreactive LHRH neurons in the hypothalamus identified by light and fluorescent microscopy. Cell Tissue Res 157:423–436

    Google Scholar 

  • Naik DV (1975b) Immuno-electron microscopic localization of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone in the arcuate nuclei and median eminence of the rat. Cell Tissue Res 157:437–455

    Google Scholar 

  • Naik DV (1976) Immunohistochemical localization of LHRH during different phases of estrous cycle of rat, with reference to the preoptic and arcuate neurons and the ependymal cells. Cell Tissue Res 173:143–166

    Google Scholar 

  • Nozaki M, Tsukahara T, Kobayashi H (1984) Neuronal systems producing LHRH in vertebrates. In: Ochiai K et al. (eds) Endocrine correlates of reproduction. Japan Science Society Press Springer, Tokyo, pp 3–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Pau KYF, Kuehl DE, Jackson GL (1982) Effect of frontal hypothalamic deafferentation on luteinizing hormone secretion and seasonal breeding in the ewe. Biol Reprod 27:999–1009

    Google Scholar 

  • Polkowska J (1981) Immunocytochemistry of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) and gonadotropic hormones in the sheep after anterior deafferentation of the hypothalamus. Cell Tissue Res 220:637–649

    Google Scholar 

  • Polkowska J, Dubois MP, Domanski E (1980) Immunocytochemistry of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) in the sheep hypothalamus during various reproductive stages. Correlation with gonadotropic hormones of the pituitary. Cell Tissue Res 208:327–341

    Google Scholar 

  • Richard P (1967) Atlas stéréotaxique du cerveau de brebis Préalpesdu-Sud. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Sakumoto T, Sakai K, Jouvet M, Kimura A, Maeda T (1984) 5HT-immunoreactive hypothalamic neurons in rat and cat after 5-HTP administration. Brain Res Bull 12:721–723

    Google Scholar 

  • Seeburg PH, Adelman JP (1984) Characterization of cDNA for precursor of human LHRH. Nature 311:666–668

    Google Scholar 

  • Sétáló G, Vigh S, Schally AV, Arimura AA, Flerkó B (1975) LHRH-containing neural elements in the rat hypothalamus. Endocrinology 96:135–142

    Google Scholar 

  • Sétáló G, Vigh S, Schally AV, Arimura AA, Ferkó B (1976) Immunohistochemical study of the origin of the LHRH-containing nerve fibers of the rat hypothalamus. Brain Res 103:597–602

    Google Scholar 

  • Silverman AJ (1976) Distribution of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) in the guinea pig brain. Endocrinology 99:30–41

    Google Scholar 

  • Silverman AJ, Krey LC, Zimmerman EA (1979) A comparative study of the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) neuronal networks in mammals. Biol Reprod 20:98–110

    Google Scholar 

  • Thiéry JC, Pelletier J, Signoret JP (1978) Effect of hypothalamic deafferentation on LH and sexual behaviour in ovariectomized ewes under hormonally induced oestrus cycle. Ann Biol Anim Biochim Biophys 18:1413–1426

    Google Scholar 

  • Welento J, Szteyn S, Milart Z (1969) Observations on the stereotaxic configuration of the hypothalamus nuclei in the sheep. Anat Anz 124:1–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Witkin JW, Silverman AJ (1983) Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) in rat olfactory systems. J Comp Neurol 218:426–432

    Google Scholar 

  • Witkin JW, Paden CH, Silverman AJ (1982) The luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) systems in the rat brain. Neuroendocrinology 35:429–438

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoshikawa T (1968) The brain of the sheep. In: Atlas of the brain of domestic animals. University of Tokyo Press, Tokyo, Pennsylvania State University Press, University Park and London, pp S1-S23

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physiologie de la Reproduction, INRA Nouzilly, F-37380, Monnaie, France

    M. Caldani, M. Batailler, J. C. Thiéry & M. P. Dubois

Authors
  1. M. Caldani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Batailler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. C. Thiéry
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. P. Dubois
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

We would like to dedicate this work to the memory of Dr. M.P. Dubois

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Caldani, M., Batailler, M., Thiéry, J.C. et al. LHRH-immunoreactive structures in the sheep brain. Histochemistry 89, 129–139 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00489916

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00489916

Keywords

Search

Navigation