Cerebroventricular administration of interferon-gamma modifies locomotor activity in the golden hamster.

The present study was undertaken to examine whether the intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of interferon (IFN)-gamma could modify 24-hour wheel running locomotor activity in the golden hamster. Hamsters implanted with a cannula in the third ventricle received a single i.c.v. injection of 1 microl of murine recombinant IFN-gamma (40 IU/microl) or its vehicle (saline) at ZT 6 or ZT 18 (with ZT 12 defined arbitrarily as the time of lights off) and their activities were monitored during 24 h. The i.c.v. administration of IFN-gamma at ZT 6 produced a significant phase advance in acrophase of rhythm, an effect not seen at ZT 18. Also, IFN-gamma depressed mesor value significantly, the effect was seen at both times. These results clearly showed that the circadian clock could be modified by IFN-gamma microinjections. One explanation could be the presence of IFN-gamma receptor in the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus, supporting a direct effect on the central oscillator. However, another hypothesis could not be ruled out.

Daily changes of GABA and taurine concentrations in various hypothalamic areas are affected by chronic hyperprolactinemia.

This study was designed to characterize, in anterior, mediobasal, and posterior hypothalamic and median eminence, the 24h changes of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) and taurine (TAU) contents in adult male rats and to analyze whether chronic hyperprolactinemia may affect these patterns. Rats were turned hyperprolactinemic by a pituitary graft. Plasma prolactin (PRL) levels increased after pituitary grafting at all time points examined. A disruption of the circadian rhythm was observed in pituitary-grafted rats, whereas GABA and TAU content followed daily rhythms in all areas studied in controls. In the mediobasal hypothalamus, two peaks for each amino acid were found at midnight and midday. In the anterior hypothalamus, GABA and TAU showed only one peak of concentration at midnight. In the posterior hypothalamus, the values of both GABA and TAU were higher during the light as compared to the dark phase of the photoperiod. In the median eminence GABA content peaked at 20:00h, the time when TAU exhibited the lowest values. Hyperprolactinemia abolished the 24h changes of GABA in the mediobasal hypothalamus and reduced its content as compared to controls. Hyperprolactinemia advanced the diurnal peak of TAU to 12:00h in the mediobasal hypothalamus and did not modify the 24:00h peak. In the anterior hypothalamus, hyperprolactinemia increased GABA and TAU contents during the light phase while it decreased them during the dark phase of the photoperiod. In the posterior hypothalamus hyperprolactinemia did not modify GABA or TAU patterns as compared to controls. In the median eminence hyperprolactinemia increased the 20:00h peak of GABA and shift advanced the decrease in TAU content at 20:00h and its maximum at 24:00h as compared to controls. These data show that GABA and TAU content exhibit specific daily patterns in each hypothalamic region studied. PRL differentially affects the daily pattern of these amino acids in each hypothalamic region analyzed.

Melatonin increases oestradiol-induced bone formation in ovariectomized rats.

To assess the effect of melatonin on bone metabolism in ovariectomized rats, receiving oestradiol therapy or not, melatonin was administered in the drinking water (25 microg/mL water) and oestradiol (10 microg/kg body weight) or vehicle was given subcutaneously 5 days/week for up to 60 days after surgery. Urinary deoxypyridinoline (a marker of bone resorption) and circulating levels of bone alkaline phosphatase activity (a marker of bone formation), as well as serum calcium and phosphorus levels, were measured every 15 days. Bone area (BA), bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD) and total body fat (expressed as 100 g body weight) were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at the end of the experiment. Body weight and total body fat were augmented after ovariectomy, and decreased after melatonin or oestradiol treatment. The effect of melatonin on body weight was seen in sham-operated rats only. Ovariectomy augmented, and melatonin or oestradiol lowered, urinary deoxypyridinoline excretion. This effect of melatonin and oestradiol was seen mainly in ovariectomized rats. The efficacy of oestradiol to counteract ovariectomy-induced bone resorption was increased by melatonin. Melatonin or oestradiol lowered serum bone alkaline phosphatase activity. Melatonin inhibition was seen mainly on the increase of bone alkaline phosphatase activity that followed ovariectomy. Serum phosphorus levels decreased after melatonin administration and were augmented after oestradiol injection; overall, melatonin impaired the increase of serum phosphorus caused by oestradiol. Ovariectomy decreased, and oestradiol increased, serum calcium levels while melatonin augmented serum calcium in sham-operated rats only. On day 60 after surgery, BMD and content decreased after ovariectomy and were increased after oestradiol injection. Melatonin augmented BA of spine and BMC of whole of the skeleton and tibia. The highest values observed were those of rats treated concurrently with oestradiol and melatonin. The present results indicate that: (i) melatonin treatment restrained bone remodelling after ovariectomy; (ii) the effect of melatonin required adequate concentrations of oestradiol; (iii) melatonin augmented oestradiol effects on bone in ovariectomized rats; (iv) a counter-regulation by melatonin of the increase in body fat caused by ovariectomy was uncovered. The melatonin doses employed were pharmacological in terms of circulating melatonin levels but not necessarily for some other fluids or tissues.

Effect of melatonin on in vitro gonadotropins and prolactin release from pituitary LHRH stimulated, and median eminence and on ovarian response to hCG in middle-aged female rats.

The possible influence of exogenous melatonin upon the reproductive axis of middle-aged (15-19-month-old) female rats showing irregular estrous cycle length was analyzed. In vitro pituitary and median eminence (ME) luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin release and responsiveness to luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) were investigated in control (n=12) and melatonin (150 &mgr;g/100 g BW) treated (n=16) rats. In vitro ovarian steroidogenic activity and its response to hCG were also evaluated. Basal secretion, first incubation after one hour (I(1)), second incubation after 2 hours (I(2)) and after two hours plus LHRH (10(-7)) (I(2+LHRH)) or hCG (20 UI) (I(2+hCG)) were studied. Melatonin administration to middle-aged rats showed a different effect upon in vitro LH release than upon FSH since only lower FSH secretion rates were found. In vivo melatonin administration reduced in vitro LH release after LHRH stimulation and this was impaired to pituitary LH content, indicating that in vivo melatonin administration alters the mechanism of LH release but does not affect the LH synthesis. Neither melatonin nor LHRH affected hemipituitary in vitro prolactin release. In vivo melatonin administration again showed a different effect upon LH release than upon FSH from ME, showing decreasing FSH secretion rates. Similarly, melatonin did not affect prolactin release or ME content. Melatonin reduced estradiol release from hCG stimulated ovaries of middle-aged rats. We concluded that melatonin may have a physiological role in middle-aged rats since decreased in vitro basal FSH release and blunted LH and estradiol increase after stimuli.