Altered regulation of pituitary luteinizing hormone secretion by GnRH and inhibin in the aged persistent-estrous female rat

Increasing blunting of inhibin responses to dynamic ovarian challenge is associated with reproductive aging in the rat

Reproductive aging results in declines in female fertility and in slight declines in baseline serum inhibins in humans. The authors tested the hypothesis that exogenous ovarian stimulation as a noninvasive dynamic test, by amplifying inhibin levels, can define more accurately than baseline serum inhibin levels the ovarian age of female rats. Female rats--young (immature, 26 days old), adult (65-75 days old), and reproductively aged (8- to 9-month-old retired breeders)--were administered pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin to stimulate the ovaries and the serum inhibin A and inhibin B, and ovarian inhibins were measured. The young and adult females had at least a 4- to 10-fold increase in serum inhibin A and inhibin B after ovarian stimulation, but the reproductively aged females did not. Adult female serum inhibin measurements after stimulation at every stage of the estrous cycle revealed a consistent 4- to 5-fold increase in all stages, whereas the reproductively aged females did not. Western blot analyses of ovarian lysates were consistent with the serum inhibin level results and revealed that ovarian inhibin alpha, inhibin beta A, and inhibin beta B subunit levels in adult ovaries were elevated after ovarian stimulation but not in the reproductively aged ovaries. The data presented here demonstrate that young, adult, and reproductively aged female inhibin responses after exogenous ovarian stimulation were different. Inhibin measurement in serum after ovarian challenge in rats, therefore, is a noninvasive method that could be used to dissect ovarian function in aging in more detail.

The aging reproductive neuroendocrine axis

It is well known that the reproductive system is one of the first biological systems to show age-related decline. While depletion of ovarian follicles clearly relates to the end of reproductive function in females, evidence is accumulating that a hypothalamic defect is critical in the transition from cyclicity to acyclicity. This minireview attempts to present a concise review on aging of the female reproductive neuroendocrine axis and provide thought-provoking analysis and insights into potential future directions for this field. Evidence will be reviewed, which shows that a defect in pulsatile and surge gonadotropin hormone-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion exists in normal cycling middle-aged female rats, which is thought to explain the significantly attenuated pulsatile and surge luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion at middle-age. Evidence is also presented, which supports the age-related defect in GnRH secretion as being due to a reduced activation of GnRH neurons. Along these lines, stimulation of GnRH secretion by the major excitatory transmitter glutamate is shown to be significantly attenuated in middle-aged proestrous rats. Corresponding age-related defects in other major excitatory regulatory factors, such as catecholamines, neuropeptide Y, and astrocytes, have also been demonstrated. Age-related changes in hypothalamic concentrations of neurotransmitter receptors, steroid receptors, and circulating steroid hormone levels are also reviewed, and discussion is presented on the complex interrelationships of the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis during aging, with attention to how a defect in one level of the axis can induce defects in other levels, and thereby potentiate the dysfunction of the entire HPO axis.

Hypothalamic alterations and reproductive aging in female rats: evidence of altered luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone neuronal function

Prior to the age-related loss of regular estrous cycles, female rats exhibit an attenuated preovulatory LH surge, a sign that reproductive decline is imminent. Numerous studies have revealed an important role for the hypothalamus in aging of the reproductive axis in this species. Because LHRH represents the primary hypothalamic signal that regulates gonadotropin release, assessments of LHRH neuronal activity can provide a window into hypothalamic function during reproductive aging. Studies of the dynamic activity of LHRH neurons during times of enhanced secretion have revealed deficits in middle-aged females. Available data are consistent with a decline in LHRH synthesis, transport, and secretion in middle-aged females during times of increased demand for LHRH output. Moreover, the alterations noted in LHRH neuronal function could account, in part, for the attenuation and eventual loss of the preovulatory LH surge with age. Elements extrinsic to LHRH neurons undoubtedly contribute to the decline in the parameters of LHRH neuronal function observed in middle-aged females. Whether alterations intrinsic to LHRH neurons also play a role in the age-associated reduction in LHRH synthesis and secretion remains to be determined. Recent examinations of hormone profiles during the perimenopausal period suggest that a potential hypothalamic contribution to aging of the reproductive axis in women warrants further examination.

Ageing and melatonin influence on in vitro gonadotropins and prolactin secretion from pituitary and median eminence

The effect of ageing and/or melatonin (MEL) on in vitro gonadotropins, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin (PRL) release and tissue content from pituitary and median eminence (ME) were investigated. Gonadotropins and PRL basal release (I-1) from hemipituitaries of young cyclic-rats was decreased by MEL to levels shown in old acyclic rats. Pituitary tissue content of LH and PRL were not affected by ageing or MEL treatment. However, pituitary FSH tissue content was decreased by ageing and MEL, suggesting a different regulatory mechanism. MEL inhibitory influence on pituitary hormones is mainly exerted on the secretory process. This effect is only exerted in young rats. ME LH and PRL release and content were significantly lower than in pituitary. However, FSH release and content in ME showed values similar to those found in the pituitary. This study confirms that the functional capacities of pituitary gland and ME are maintained during reproductive senescence.