Expression of the mu-opioid receptor in the anterior pituitary gland is influenced by age and sex

Neuropeptides
J CarreteroD J Burks

Abstract

To analyze whether opioids are able to modulate endocrine regulation by acting directly on rat pituitary cells, an immunohistochemical study of micro-opioid receptor expression in these cells was performed, with attention given to the analysis of potential age- and sex-related variations in receptor expression patterns. In both sexes, the micro-opioid receptor was detected in the pituitary pars distalis. However, significant age-related differences were observed. Both in male and female rats, the percentage of micro-opioid receptor-expressing cells decreased significantly from postnatal week one through the 24 months of our study. Interestingly, pituitary cells containing the micro-opioid receptor were significantly more numerous in male than in female, with exception of the pre-pubertal phase and old rats. According to two-way analysis of variance, the gender-related differences in micro-receptor expression were independent of age-related variations. Thus, without excluding hypothalamic actions, our results suggest that opioids may exert their endocrine function by acting directly on pituitary cells.

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Citations

Jul 26, 2005·Peptides·Richard J Bodnar, Gad E Klein
Nov 9, 2016·Neuropsychopharmacology : Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology·Herminio M GuajardoRita J Valentino
Nov 27, 2009·Journal of Psychopharmacology·Stephen R HodgsonShoshana Eitan
Jul 15, 2017·PloS One·Andrew T MarshallSean B Ostlund
Mar 15, 2019·Current Opinion in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Obesity·Diane Donegan
May 21, 2019·Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience·Patrícia G de OliveiraSandra I Vieira

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