Ontogeny of catecholamine turnover rates in limbic and hypothalamic structures in relation to serum prolactin and gonadotropin levels.

Norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) concentrations and turnover rates have been studied in the n. accumbens, medial preoptic area (MPO) and anterior and posterior parts of the mediobasal hypothalamus of developing rats. Turnover rates are determined by injection of alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine 30 and 90 min prior to decapitation. NE concentrations and turnover in the n. accumbens were low in all age groups with slightly increased values between days 20 and 35 after birth whereas DA concentrations and turnover rates were low at day 15 and 20 and at high adult values by day 25 after birth. Medial preoptic and anterior mediobasal hypothalamic catecholamines exhibited a rather unique pattern. Concentrations and turnover rates were low in 15-day-old animals and increased between days 20 and 30 to very high values. Such high values were never observed in adult diestrous animals. The same pattern was also observed in the posterior mediobasal hypothalamus for NE concentrations and turnover rates whereas the respective values for DA showed relatively large fluctuations. On the basis of catecholamine measurements 30 and 90 min after blockade of tyrosine hydroxylase an attempt was also made to differentiate turnover rates of the functional and of the storage pool. Serum LH levels in the 15-day-old animals showed large fluctuations. FSH levels were high and prolactin levels were low. At the time of increased preoptic and hypothalamic NE and DA turnover rates, serum prolactin levels were also high whereas serum LH levels were lowest between days 20 and 30 and then slightly increased. Serum FSH levels were uniformly low. The possibility is discussed that high NE turnover may stimulate pituitary LH and prolactin release by hypothalamic mechanisms. Hihgh serum prolactin levels may stimulate DA turnover which is inhibitory to pituitary LH release, thus counteracting the stimulatory effect of NE on LH-RH release. The dopaminergic inhibition of LH may be relieved at the time of puberty partially because the DA receptors become desensitized to the action of DA.