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The Journal of Neuroscience, January 15, 1998, 18(2):713-719

Temporal Patterns of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH), c-fos, and Galanin Gene Expression in GnRH Neurons Relative to the Luteinizing Hormone Surge in the Rat

Patricia D. Finn¹, Robert A. Steiner^{1, 2, 3}, and Donald K. Clifton^{2, 3}

Departments of ¹ Physiology and Biophysics and ² Obstetrics and Gynecology and ³ The Population Center for Research in Reproduction, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons increase their expression of Fos and galanin coincident with the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge in the female rat. To define the temporal relationships between the expression of these genes and the GnRH gene itself and to gain insight about the possible functional interactions of these processes, we compared levels of c-fos, galanin, and GnRH mRNA in GnRH neurons and plasma levels of LH in the rat, beginning 6 hr before and continuing for 24 hr after a sex steroid-induced LH surge. LH levels were increased significantly by 1600 hr. They increased twofold further by 1800 hr and then returned to baseline by 2400 hr. Using in situ hybridization, we determined that levels of c-fos mRNA in GnRH neurons were elevated significantly at 1600 hr only, whereas levels of galanin mRNA in GnRH neurons first increased twofold by 1800 hr, increased an additional twofold by 2400 hr, and remained elevated at all time points sampled thereafter. There were no significant changes in cellular levels of GnRH mRNA over the time points sampled. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the induction of c-fos gene expression in GnRH neurons leads to an increase in galanin gene expression, and that the sustained increase in galanin mRNA levels in GnRH neurons reflects either the need to replenish galanin stores that are depleted at the time of the LH surge or the involvement of galanin with physiological events that occur on the day of estrus.

Key words: gonadotropin-releasing hormone; luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone; c-fos; galanin; in situ hybridization; luteinizing hormone; reproduction; neuroendocrine regulation

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Copyright © 1998 Society for Neuroscience  0270-6474/98/182713-07$05.00/0

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				I. Merchenthaler, G. E. Hoffman, and M. V. Lane Estrogen and Estrogen Receptor-{beta} (ER{beta})-Selective Ligands Induce Galanin Expression within Gonadotropin Hormone-Releasing Hormone-Immunoreactive Neurons in the Female Rat Brain Endocrinology, June 1, 2005; 146(6): 2760 - 2765. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. L. Petersen, E. N. Ottem, and C. D. Carpenter Direct and Indirect Regulation of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Neurons by Estradiol Biol Reprod, December 1, 2003; 69(6): 1771 - 1778. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. A. Maurer and S. Wray Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone Quantified in Tissues and Slice Explant Cultures of Postnatal Rat Hypothalami Endocrinology, February 1, 1999; 140(2): 791 - 799. [Abstract] [Full Text]

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