Alpha-difluoromethylornithine modifies FSH secretion and puberty onset in the female rat

Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine
S M Thyssen, Carlos Libertun

Abstract

FSH secretion is high in immature female rats from Postnatal Day 5 to 18 and decreases thereafter. This is a relatively steroid-independent event of cerebral origin and of importance for puberty onset. Polyamines, a group of ubiquitous amines, play an essential role in tissue growth and differentiation, body weight increment, brain organization, and molecular mechanisms of hormonal action. Polyamine levels as well as the activity of ornithine decarboxylase, the limiting enzyme in polyamines biosynthesis, are highest during development. Inhibition of their synthesis during this period by alpha- difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), a specific and irreversible inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase, impairs normal brain development. The present study tested the hypothesis that polyamines play a role during brain organization of reproduction. DFMO was administered following different schedules in female newborn rats, and the effect on pituitary secretion, puberty onset, and fertility was evaluated. In three groups (daily injections from Day 1 to 9, or from Day 1 to 6, or injections on alternative days from Day 1 to 9), a delay in vaginal opening and first estrous was observed. When vaginal opening was plotted against body weight, it was e...Continue Reading

Citations

Jun 1, 2005·Journal of Clinical Neuroscience : Official Journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia·Cuneyt TemizRobert J Dempsey
Mar 26, 2002·Neuroscience Letters·Sandra M Thyssen, Carlos Libertun
Mar 23, 2002·Experimental Biology and Medicine·Sandra M ThyssenCarlos Libertun

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