Article (Scientific journals)
Changes in Progesterone Metabolism in the Chicken Hypothalamus During Induced Egg Laying Stop and Molting
Balthazart, Jacques; Verheyen, G.; Schumacher, M. et al.
1988In General and Comparative Endocrinology, 72 (2), p. 282-95
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Abstract :
[en] In the present study, we have established and validated a radioenzyme assay which permits us to quantify progesterone metabolism in the chicken brain. Progesterone metabolism was then studied in five brain areas obtained by microdissection from the telencephalon (part of the lobus paraolfactorius immediately rostral to the preoptic area), the preoptic area, and the hypothalamus. Three metabolites of progesterone were produced in large amounts in these brain regions and were quantified in this study: 5 beta-pregnane-3,20-dione (5 beta-DHP) as well as its metabolite 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 beta-pregnane-20-one (5 beta,3 alpha-ol) and 5 alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione (5 alpha-DHP). The unmetabolized progesterone was also recovered and quantified. The 5 beta-reduction of progesterone (production of 5 beta-DHP and 5 beta,3 alpha-ol) was very active but its 5 alpha-reduction (production of 5 alpha-DHP) was almost absent in the lobus paraolfactorius. An opposite pattern of metabolism was found in the preoptic area and the hypothalamus (higher 5 alpha- but lower 5 beta-reductase activity). The changes in progesterone metabolism in these brain areas were then studied in groups of hens submitted to induced egg laying stop and molting. A significant decrease in progesterone 5 alpha-reduction was found in the median hypothalamus of hens during the period of molt. Simultaneously, the experimental procedures induced significant decreases in the production of 5 beta-DHP by the lobus paraolfactorius, anterior, and medial hypothalamus but induced a significant increase in the production of this metabolite in the preoptic area. These changes are likely to be involved in the control of reproductive functions including sexual behavior and secretion of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone, and a number of possible causal mechanisms are presented. These should now be tested experimentally especially in view of the very limited information which is now available on the biological effects of the metabolites of progesterone.
Disciplines :
Endocrinology, metabolism & nutrition
Agriculture & agronomy
Neurosciences & behavior
Author, co-author :
Balthazart, Jacques  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences biomédicales et précliniques > Biologie de la différenciation sexuelle du cerveau
Verheyen, G.
Schumacher, M.
Decuypere, E.
Language :
English
Title :
Changes in Progesterone Metabolism in the Chicken Hypothalamus During Induced Egg Laying Stop and Molting
Publication date :
November 1988
Journal title :
General and Comparative Endocrinology
ISSN :
0016-6480
eISSN :
1095-6840
Publisher :
Elsevier, United States - New York
Volume :
72
Issue :
2
Pages :
282-95
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Available on ORBi :
since 18 November 2009

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