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The effect of bacterial lipopolysaccharide endotoxin (LPS), immune system activator, on differentiation and migration of gonadotropin-releasing, hormone producing neurons in rat embryogenesis has been studied. Intraperitoneal introduction of LPS (18 jg/kg) to pregnant rats on the 12th day of pregnancy led to 50% decrease in total number of GRH-neurons in the forebrain of 17-day-old embryos and 17% decrease in 19-day-old embryos. At the same time, the number of GRH-neurons in the nasal area of the head of 17- and 19-day-old embryos increased by 40 and 50%, respectively, whereas it increased by 20% in olfactory bulbs of 17-day-old embryos and did not changed in olfactory bulbs of 19-day-old embryos. Neither the total number of neurons nor their distribution patterns were affected by the introduction of LPS into pregnant rats on the 15th day of pregnancy. Singular localization of GRH-neurons in embryo forebrain was observed after LPS administration, whereas the neurons were located by groups of 3-4 cells in rostral areas. Therefore, at the early stages of pregnancy, LPS was shown to suppress initial stages of differentiation and migration of GRH producing neurons. The effects observed in our study may be mediated by LPS-induced, proinflammatory cytokines. more...

The work has been carried out on mice of the Tg8 line with knockout of gene of monoamineoxidase A with an increase of serotonin and noradrenaline content in the brain, and on mice of the C3H line with unchanged genome and normal concentration of monoamines. An immunocytochemical study has been performed of development of neurons producing gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) under conditions of excess of serotonin and noradrenaline in the mice in embryogenesis. The GnRH-neurons were revealed at the 18th day of embryonic development in telencephalon along trajectory of their migration from olfactory bulbs to the retrochiasmatic area. In telencephalon of mouse embryos of the Tg8 line, a redistribution of the GnRH-neurons along their migration trajectory was observed as compared with embryos of the C3H line mice. The percent of the GnRH-neurons in the Tg8 mouse embryos in caudal parts of the migration trajectory was lower than in rostral parts, the opposite distribution of the neurons being observed in the C3H line mouse embryos; at the excess of serotonin and noradrenaline in the Tg8 line mouse embryos, the total amount of GnRH-neurons in the brain was lower than in the C3H mice. In males of the Tg8 line mice under conditions of excess of serotonin and noradrenaline the optical density of neurons, which correlated with the GnRH concentration in the cell, was higher than in control mice. Thus, in the Tg8 mice under conditions of the serotonin and noradrenaline excess, migration of the GnRH-neurons to their final anlage in hypothalamus is accelerated as well as the total number of the GnRH-neurons decreases, which indicates a decrease of proliferation of cells-precursors and the earlier differentiation of neurons. more...

This study was aimed to test our hypothesis that dopamine synthesized in the neurons of the brain is delivered to the general circulation in rats during prenatal and early postnatal periods, i.e. before the establishment of the blood-brain barrier. Using the high performance liquid chromatography, it was demonstrated that the dopamine concentration and content in the peripheral blood in fetuses and neonatal rats (i.e. before the establishment of the blood-brain barrier) greatly exceeded those in adult rats. Moreover, the establishment of the blood-brain barrier was accompanied by the significant increase of the dopamine concentration in the brain. A drop of the dopamine concentration in fetal plasma after the microsurgical lesion of the forebrain and mesencephalon (encephalectomy) are considered as direct evidence in favour of our hypothesis. more...

The contents of dopamine, serotonin, and noradrenaline in rat fetuses developing under the conditions of their deficiency induced by administration of alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine to females during 11th to 16th or 20th day of pregnancy and in fetuses, whose mothers were given saline at the same time, were determined using HPLC with subsequent electrochemical detection. Administration of alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine led to decreased levels of dopamine and noradrenaline in the areas of migration of GnRH-neurons in fetuses on days 17 and 21 of prenatal development. The concentration of serotonin remained unchanged, except in the head nasal area in males on day 21. The areas of interaction between the brain catecholaminergic systems and migrating and differentiating GnRH-neurons were determined by double immunohistochemical labeling. Close topographical location of GnRH-immunoreactive neurons and tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive in the area of nucleus accumbens on days 17 and 20, as well as in the median eminence on day 20. The GnRH concentration in the caudal areas of migration of GnRH-neurons under the normal conditions and in the case of catecholamine deficiency was determined using radioimmunoassay. After administration of alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine the GnRH concentration in the anterior hypothalamus decreased in females. The data obtained suggest the involvement of catecholamines in the regulation of development of GnRH-Neurons during prenatal development. In addition, the adequacy and efficiency of the used model of catecholamine deficiency for studying the development of such neurons was confirmed. more...

The GnRH producing neurons are the key link of neuroendocrine regulation of the adult reproductive system. Synthesis and secretion of GnRH are, in turn, under the afferent catecholaminergic control. Taking into account that catecholamines exert morphogenetic effects on target cells during ontogenesis, this study was aimed at investigation of the effects of catecholamines on development of GnRH neurons in rats during ontogenesis. We carried out comparative quantitative and semiquantitative analyses of differentiation and migration of GnRH neurons in fetuses of both sexes under the conditions of normal metabolism of catecholamines (administration of saline) or their pharmacologically induced deficiency (administration of alpha-methylparatyrosine). The inhibition of catecholamine synthesis from day 11 of embryogenesis led to an increasing number of GnRH neurons in rostral regions of the trajectory of their migration over the brain: in the area of olfactory tubercles on day 17 and in the area of olfactory bulb on days 18 and 21. In addition, the optical density of GnRH neurons located in the rostral regions of migration was higher in the fetuses after administration of alpha-methylparatyrosine during embryogenesis, as compared to the control. It has been concluded that catecholamines stimulate the migration of GnRH neurons and affect their differentiation. more...