# AFFERENTS TO LHRH NEURONS AND MAMMALIAN REPRODUCTION

> **NIH NIH R01** · TUFTS UNIVERSITY BOSTON · 1992 · $171,270

## Abstract

A combination of in vivo and in vitro experiments are designed to examine
the HYPOTHESIS that ESTROGEN induces the LH surge by activating release
of norepinephrine and stimulating release of LHRH. Immunocytochemistry
and electron microscopy will be used to examine dopamine-beta-hydroxylase
(DBHJ) immunopositve terminals in the,vicinity of LHRH neurons.
Parameters of DBH terminals will be measured using images directly
digitized with a TV camera in the electron microsope. Number and size of
terminals, number of vesicles and proximity to LHRH neurons will be
measured in digitized images and statistically analysed to evaluate the
role of putative norepinephrine release in the induction of the surge of
luteinizing hormone necessary for ovulation. Animal models will include:
- 1) spontaneous ovulators with a luteal phase, guinea pigs; 2) induced
ovulators, ferrets; 3) seasonal ovulators, bats; and 4) once only
ovulators, lamprey.

In addition, the HYPOTHESIS that estrogen promotes the cdnversion of high
molecular weight LHRH precursors to mature forms will be the focus of
HPLC separation and RIA quantitation of large molecular weight forms of
LHRH, i.e. precursors, and active, mature hormone. The HYPOTHESIS that
estrogen modulates the levels of other forms of LHRH decapeptide, i.e.,
lamprey-like LHRH, in mammals will also be examined by HPLC and RIA.
These other non-mammalian forms of LHRH may function not as
neuroendocrine, but as neuromodulatory agents.

Finally, in vitro-perifusion will be used to further examine the
HYPOTHESIS that estrogen induces the release of LHRH via noradrenergic
mechanisms by examining the release of LHRH induced by estrogen in the
presence of opiates.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 2197876
- **Project number:** 5R01HD019803-06
- **Recipient organization:** TUFTS UNIVERSITY BOSTON
- **SAM.gov UEI:** C1F5LNUF7W86
- **Principal Investigator:** JOAN C KING
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1992
- **Award amount:** $171,270
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1985-09-01 → 1994-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2197876

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 2197876, AFFERENTS TO LHRH NEURONS AND MAMMALIAN REPRODUCTION (5R01HD019803-06). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/2197876. Licensed CC0.

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