Article (Scientific journals)
Oxytocin Facilitates Female Sexual Maturation through a Glia-to-Neuron Signaling Pathway
Parent, Anne-Simone; Rasier, Grégory; Matagne, V. et al.
2008In Endocrinology, 149 (3), p. 1358-65
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Abstract :
[en] It has been earlier proposed that oxytocin could play a facilitatory role in the preovulatory LH surge in both rats and humans. We here provide evidence that oxytocin also facilitates sexual maturation in female rats. The administration of an oxytocin antagonist for 6 d to immature female rats decreased GnRH pulse frequency ex vivo and delayed the age at vaginal opening and first estrus. The in vitro reduction in GnRH pulse frequency required chronic blockade of oxytocin receptors, because it was not acutely observed after a single injection of the antagonist. Hypothalamic explants exposed to the antagonist in vitro showed a reduced GnRH pulse frequency and failed to respond to oxytocin with GnRH release. Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) mimicked the stimulatory effect of oxytocin on GnRH pulse frequency, and inhibition of PG synthesis blocked the effect of oxytocin, suggesting that oxytocin accelerates pulsatile GnRH release via PGE(2). The source of PGE(2) appears to be astrocytes, because oxytocin stimulates PGE(2) release from cultured hypothalamic astrocytes. Moreover, astrocytes express oxytocin receptors, whereas GnRH neurons do not. These results suggest that oxytocin facilitates female sexual development and that this effect is mediated by a mechanism involving glial production of PGE(2).
Disciplines :
Pediatrics
Anatomy (cytology, histology, embryology...) & physiology
Author, co-author :
Parent, Anne-Simone ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences cliniques > Pédiatrie
Rasier, Grégory ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Doct. sc. bioméd. & pharma. (Bologne)
Matagne, V.
Lomniczi, A.
LEBRETHON, Marie-Christine ;  Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège - CHU > Pédiatrie
Gerard, Arlette ;  Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège - CHU > Pédiatrie
Ojeda, S. R.
Bourguignon, Jean-Pierre ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences cliniques > Pédiatrie
Language :
English
Title :
Oxytocin Facilitates Female Sexual Maturation through a Glia-to-Neuron Signaling Pathway
Publication date :
March 2008
Journal title :
Endocrinology
ISSN :
0013-7227
eISSN :
1945-7170
Publisher :
The Endocrine Society, United States - Maryland
Volume :
149
Issue :
3
Pages :
1358-65
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Funders :
F.R.S.-FNRS - Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique [BE]
Available on ORBi :
since 24 July 2010

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