On the catecholamine control of growth hormone regulation. Evidence for discrete changes in dopamine and noradrenaline turnover following growth hormone administration

The multiple roles of GH in neural ageing and injury

Advanced age is typically associated with a decrease in cognitive function including impairment in the formation and retention of new memories. The hippocampus is critical for learning and memory, especially spatial learning, and is particularly affected by ageing. With advanced age, multiple neural components can be detrimentally affected including a reduction in the number of neural stem and precursor cells, a decrease in the formation of adult born neurons (neurogenesis), and deficits in neural circuitry, all of which ultimately contribute to impaired cognitive function. Importantly, physical exercise has been shown to ameliorate many of these impairments and is able to improve learning and memory. Relevantly, growth hormone (GH) is an important protein hormone that decreases with ageing and increases following physical exercise. Originally described due to its role in longitudinal growth, GH has now been identified to play several additional key roles, especially in relation to the brain. Indeed, the regular decrease in GH levels following puberty is one of the most well documented components of neuroendocrine ageing. Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) has been described to have adverse effects on brain function, which can be ameliorated via GH replacement therapy. Physical exercise has been shown to increase circulating GH levels. Furthermore, we recently demonstrated the increase in exercise-mediated GH is critical for improved cognitive function in the aged mouse. Here we examine the multiple roles that GH plays, particularly in the aged brain and following trauma, irradiation and stroke, and how increasing GH levels can ameliorate deficits in cognition.

Central nervous system actions of growth hormone on brain monoamine levels and behavior of juvenile rainbow trout

Growth hormone (GH) has been demonstrated to alter the behavior of juvenile salmonids. However, the mechanisms behind this action are not yet understood. In mammals and birds, peripheral GH treatment has been shown to affect monoaminergic activity in the central nervous system, which may be a mechanism whereby GH alters behavior. To investigate if GH may influence behavior directly at the central nervous system, juvenile rainbow trout were injected with GH into the third ventricle of the brain, whereupon physical activity and food intake were observed during 2 h. Thereafter, brains were sampled and the content of serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline and their metabolites were measured in hypothalamus, telencephalon, optic tectum, and brainstem. The GH-treated fish increased their swimming activity relative to sham-injected controls, while appetite remained unchanged, compared with sham-injected controls. Analysis of brain content of monoamines revealed that the GH treatment caused a decrease in the dopamine metabolite homovanillic acid in the hypothalamus, indicating a lowered dopaminergic activity. It is concluded that GH may alter behavior by acting directly on the central nervous system in juvenile rainbow trout. Furthermore, GH seems to alter the dopaminergic activity in the hypothalamus. Whether this is a mechanism whereby GH affects swimming activity remains to be clarified.

Activation of noradrenergic neurons projecting to the diencephalon following central administration of histamine is mediated by H1 receptors

The effect of histamine on the activity of noradrenergic neurons terminating in discrete regions of the diencephalon was examined in male rats. Noradrenergic neuronal activity was estimated by measuring the concentration of norepinephrine and its metabolite 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethyleneglycol [MHPG] in the medial zona incerta [MZI] and in the dorsomedial [DMN], periventricular [PeVN] and medial preoptic hypothalamic nuclei [MPN]. The intracerebroventricular administration of histamine effected a time-related increase in MHPG concentrations in the MZI, DMN, PeVN and MPN; these effects were blocked by the H1 antagonist mepyramine but not the H2 antagonist zolantidine. Neither mepyramine nor zolantidine affected basal MHPG concentrations in any of the brain regions examined. These results indicate that central administration of histamine increases the activity of noradrenergic neurons projecting to the diencephalon via an action at H1 but not H2 receptors.

Rat growth hormone and hypothalamic catecholamine nerve terminal systems. Evidence for rapid and discrete reductions in dopamine and noradrenaline levels and turnover in the median eminence of the hypophysectomized male rat

Rat growth hormone (rGH) (100 micrograms/kg) produced 2-4 h after its i.v. injection a rapid reduction of catecholamine stores and turnover in the subependymal layer and in the medial and lateral palisade zone of the median eminence. It is suggested that rGH may inhibit its own secretion partly via reduction of DA synthesis and release in the median eminence leading to increased somatostatin release and partly via reduced noradrenaline synthesis and turnover in the median eminence leading to reduced secretion of a growth hormone releasing factor.

Nicotine-induced increases of noradrenaline turnover in discrete noradrenaline nerve terminal systems of the hypothalamus and the median eminence of the rat and their relationship to changes in the secretion of adenohypophyseal hormones

The effects of acute single doses (0.3 and 1 mg/kg) of nicotine on various hypothalamic catecholamine nerve terminal systems and on the secretion of adenohypophyseal hormones in the rat were studied. Nicotine, in a dose of 1.0 mg/kg, increased noradrenaline turnover in the median eminence and in the peri- and paraventricular hypothalamic regions. The dopamine and noradrenaline nerve terminal systems in the median eminence and the dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus respectively were unaffected. Serum GH levels were decreased and serum prolactin levels increased after a dose of 1 mg/kg. In the presence of tyrosine hydroxylase inhibition, nicotine in a dose of 1 mg/kg, instead increased GH and also LH secretion. It is suggested that the preferential increases of noradrenaline turnover in various hypothalamic noradrenaline nerve terminal systems by nicotine may be partly responsible for the nicotine induced increases of serum prolactin. GH and LH levels observed.

Simultaneous monoamine histofluorescence and neuropeptide immunocytochemistry: II. Correlative distribution of catecholamine varicosities and magnocellular neurosecretory neurons in the rat supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei

The comparative morphology of catecholamine (CA) varicosities and neurophysin (NP)-containing perikarya of the supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular nuclei (PVN) was examined. The major CA innervation to the SON and PVN did not coexist with the major distribution of magnocellular perikarya, but was located peripheral to the nuclei. A dense distribution of CA varicosities was found ventral to the neurosecretory perikarya of the SON and overlapped numerous immunoreactive oxytocin- and vasopressin-containing neuritic profiles. Examination of Golgi-stained sections revealed that dendrites from SON perikarya projected to the CA zone and were likely candidates for the processes identified immunocytochemically. In addition, a heterogenous distribution of axosomatic contacts was found within the SON which suggested a preferential innervation of VP-containing neurons. The densest concentration of CA varicosities in the PVN occurred in the periventricular region adjacent to the third ventricle and in the contiguous parvocellular portion of the PVN. These CA varicosities overlapped scattered oxytocinerigic perikarya in both areas. In addition the ventromedial as well as the dorsolateral subnuclei of the PVN were contacted by CA varicosities; this heterogeneous distribution suggests that the each subnucleus of the PVN with its individual hypothalamic, neurohypophyseal, brainstem, or cortical projections may possibly receive a catecholaminergic innervation by a select group of CA cells or nuclear groups from the brain stem.

Simultaneous monoamine histofluorescence and neuropeptide immunocytochemistry: V. A methodology for examining correlative monoamine-neuropeptide neuroanatomy

A technique for the simultaneous visualization of monoamines and neuropeptides is described. This technique provides for the correlative examination of monoamine and neuropeptide interrelationships either simultaneously using two adjacent sections of freeze-dried tissue or sequentially using a single freeze-dried tissue section for both histofluorescence and immunocytochemistry. Both techniques provide for the investigation of precise anatomical interrelationships and used together provide confirmation and complementary information concerning neuropeptide-monoamine interactions. Histological comparisons between freeze-dried and Bouin's fixed tissue revealed three differences: First, the cytoplasm of neurons in freeze-dried tissue retained a reticulated appearance; secondly, neurons in freeze-dried tissue demonstrated a greater affinity for chemical stains; and thirdly, tissue fixed in Bouin's solution appeared shrunken when compared to tissue which had been freeze-dried. Application of immunocytochemistry to freeze-dried tissue proved successful with all antisera tested and the quality of the immunostaining was similar in both freeze-dried and Bouin's fixed tissue. These observations suggest that freeze-drying fixation provides a suitable tissue preparation for immunocytochemistry and a technical means for coupling immunocytochemical staining of neuropeptides and fluorescence histochemical methods for monoamines in a single tissue block.

Simultaneous monoamine histofluorescence and neuropeptide immunocytochemistry: I. Localization of catecholamines and gonadotropin-releasing hormone in the rat median eminence

Adjacent tissue sections through the rat median eminence were examined for the distribution of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and catecholamines (CA). A simultaneous visualization technique was employed for this correlative neuroanatomical analysis. At rostral and mid-central levels of the median eminence the majority of GnRH terminals do not appear in coexistence with CA terminals; the latter were confined to the outer-most 10 micrometers of the median eminence while the densest concentration of GnRH terminals was located internal to this layer. However, individual GnRH fibers appeared to penetrate the outer CA zone wherein they were found in juxtaposition to portal capillaries. At caudal levels of the median eminence, there was an extensive overlap of CA and GnRH varicosities adjacent to the tubero-infundibular sulcus. In addition, numerous GnRH terminals were seen adjacent to portal vessels. The differences in the positions of CA and GnRH terminals between rostral and caudal median eminence may provide a morphological basis for the hypothesis of separate regulatory mechanisms for CA upon GnRH secretion at these two levels of the median eminence.

Naloxone potentiation of 2-Br-alpha-ergocryptine (CB 154) effects on GH secretion in man

The effect of the combined administration of either CB 154 (2.5 mg/osM) or L-DOPA (500 mg/osM) and naloxone have been studied in six normal male volunteers. Naloxone cause a clear-cut potentiation of CB 154 effects on human growth hormone (hGH) secretion and only a slight, statistically non-significant, potentiation of L-DOPA effects on hGH secretion. These results have been discussed in the light of morphofunctional findings showing possible interactions between dopamine (DA) systems and somatostatin-positive and enkephalin-positive nerve terminals.