Functions of the GABAergic system on serum LH concentrations in pre-pubertal Nellore heifers. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • This study was conducted to evaluate the luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion pattern after gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAA) antagonist to determine the effects of the GABAergic system on LH secretion during reproductive maturation in pre-pubertal Nellore heifers. Nellore heifers (n=10) were administered a picrotoxin injection of 0.18mg/kg, i.v. Blood samples were collected every 15min for 3h at different developmental stages (8, 10, 14 and 17 mo of age). Plasma concentrations of LH were quantified using an RIA (sensitivity of 0.04ng/mL and CV of 15 %). There was an interaction between treatment and age (P = 0.034). Picrotoxin-treated heifers had lesser (P 0.05) LH mean concentrations during a 3 h period at 10 and 17 mo of age compared to control heifers (P 0.05). Comparing the period before and after Picrotoxin injection in the same animals, there was a 33 % decrease in LH concentration at 8 mo of age (P = 0.0165). These results indicate the GABAergic system has a stimulatory function in inducing LH secretion in pre-pubertal Nellore heifers. These findings corroborate previous results that GABA increases GnRH/LH secretion in other species during the pre-pubertal period.

published proceedings

  • Anim Reprod Sci

author list (cited authors)

  • Cardoso, D., Cardoso, R. C., & de Paula Nogueira, G.

citation count

  • 0

complete list of authors

  • Cardoso, Daniel||Cardoso, Rodolfo C||de Paula Nogueira, Guilherme

publication date

  • January 2021