Raphe glucose-sensing serotonergic neurons stimulate KNDy neurons to enhance LH pulses via 5HT2CR: rat and goat studies.

Dysfunction of central serotonergic neurons is known to cause depressive disorders in humans, who often show reproductive and/or glucose metabolism disorders. This study examined whether dorsal raphe (DR) serotonergic neurons sense high glucose availability to upregulate reproductive function via activating hypothalamic arcuate (ARC) kisspeptin neurons (= KNDy neurons), a dominant stimulator of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)/gonadotropin pulses, using female rats and goats. RNA-seq and histological analysis revealed that stimulatory serotonin-2C receptor (5HT2CR) was mainly expressed in the KNDy neurons in female rats.

Facilitatory and inhibitory role of central amylin administration in the regulation of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone pulse generator activity in goats.

Pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion is essential for regulating reproductive functions in mammals. GnRH pulses are governed by a neural mechanism that is termed the GnRH pulse generator. In the present study, we investigated the role of central calcitonin receptor (CTR) signaling in the regulation of the GnRH pulse generator activity in ovariectomized goats by administering amylin, an endogenous ligand for CTR, into the lateral ventricle.

Establishment of long-term chronic recording technique of in vivo ovarian parenchymal temperature in Japanese Black cows.

The reproductive performance of cattle can be suppressed by heat stress. Reproductive organ temperature, especially ovarian temperature, may affect follicle development and ovulation. The establishment of a technique for long-term measurement of ovarian temperature could prove useful in understanding the mechanisms underlying the temperature-dependent changes in follicular development and subsequent ovulation in cows.