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Endocrinology Vol. 141, No. 11 4218-4225
Copyright © 2000 by The Endocrine Society


ARTICLES

Identification of Neurokinin B-Expressing Neurons as an Highly Estrogen-Receptive, Sexually Dimorphic Cell Group in the Ovine Arcuate Nucleus1

Marie-Laure Goubillon, Rachel A. Forsdike, Jane E. Robinson, Philippe Ciofi, Alain Caraty and Allan E. Herbison

Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom CB2 4AT; INSERM, U-378, Institut Francois Magendie (P.C.), F33077 Bordeaux, and INRA, Station de Physiologie de la Reproduction (A.C.), 37380 Nouzilly, France

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Allan E. Herbison, Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom CB2 4AT. E-mail: allan.herbison{at}bbsrc.ac.uk


    Abstract
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Studies were undertaken to examine the hypothesis that neurons expressing neurokinin B (NKB) may represent an estrogen-receptive input to GnRH neurons in the sheep. Cells immunoreactive for NKB were located almost exclusively within the arcuate nucleus of the ovine hypothalamus. Dual labeling experiments revealed that essentially all NKB neurons (97%) were immunoreactive for estrogen receptor {alpha} and that NKB-immunoreactive fibers were found in close proximity to approximately 40% of GnRH neurons located in the rostral preoptic area as well as intermingled with GnRH fibers in the median eminence. The analysis of male and female brains revealed a marked female-dominant sex difference in the numbers of NKB neurons, and sections obtained from in utero androgen-treated females indicated that this sex difference resulted from an organizational influence of testosterone during neural development. In adult ovariectomized ewes, in situ hybridization studies failed to detect any significant effect of 8- to 26-h exposure of estrogen on cellular NKB messenger RNA levels. Together, these studies identify the first sexually differentiated neuronal cell population in the ovine hypothalamus and, remarkably, show that essentially all of these female-dominant NKB neurons express estrogen receptors. Although these neurons may be involved in any number of steroid-dependent, sexually differentiated functions in the sheep, the neuroanatomical evidence for potential NKB inputs to GnRH neurons suggests a role for this novel population in the regulation of reproductive function.


    Introduction
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
IN MAMMALS of both sexes, gonadal steroids exert critical influences on the biosynthesis and secretion of GnRH. The mechanisms mediating these feedback effects are likely to involve numerous neurotransmitters and neuropeptides, although the precise roles of many remain to be determined (1, 2). Neurokinin B (NKB), a neuropeptide transcribed from the preprotachykinin B gene, is expressed almost exclusively within the arcuate nucleus (ARN) of the human (3, 4), monkey (5), and rat (6, 7, 8, 9) hypothalamus, but has received relatively little attention in this regard. This is despite knowledge that the hypertrophy of estrogen receptor (ER)-containing ARN neurons after the menopause in humans involves NKB-expressing cells (3, 10). These postmenopausal changes appear to result from decreased ovarian steroid production as increases in the size and number of NKB neurons, as well as NKB gene expression, have been reported after ovariectomy in the ARN of the monkey (5). Interestingly, similar effects have been observed in the NKB system of the rat after ovariectomy (11).

Together, these initial observations indicate that the NKB neurons in the ARN may be regulated by estrogen and that they could represent a relatively conserved estrogen-receptive neuronal population within mammalian species. Furthermore, the positive correlation between elevated NKB expression and LH secretion (5, 11) suggests a possible role in the steroid-dependent regulation of the GnRH network. In the present series of experiments we have examined these hypotheses in the sheep, a well established animal model for examining the neuroendocrine regulation of gonadotropin secretion (12). Specifically, we have determined 1) whether NKB might also be expressed in the ARN of this species and, if so, what its relationship to ER{alpha} and GnRH immunoreactivity might be; 2) whether NKB neurons represent a sexually dimorphic population in this species, another important characteristic if they are to have role a in regulating LH release; and 3) whether NKB messenger RNA (mRNA) expression may change over the course of the estrogen-induced LH surge in the sheep.


    Materials and Methods
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Animal models
Three separate experiments were undertaken in the present study. Following the immunocytochemical characterization of NKB neurons in Exp 1, we employed previously prepared brain sections for Exp 2 and 3. All experimental procedures were performed in accordance with the Use and Care of Animals regulations of the French Ministry of Agriculture (Exp 1) and United Kingdom Home Office regulations under license PPL 80/1037 (Exp 2 and 3).

Exp 1. Determination of the location of the NKB neuronal system within the ovine hypothalamus together with investigation of ER{alpha} expression in these cells and of their relationship with GnRH neurons were undertaken in five intact adult Ile-de-France ewes killed during the breeding season (September-December). Ewes were decapitated, and both carotid arteries were catheterized. Two liters of 0.9% saline solution followed by 4 liters 4% paraformaldehyde in PBS (pH 7.8) were then passed into the carotid arteries using an automatic pump over a period of approximately 15 min. The brains were removed and placed in the fixative solution overnight. Blocks of tissue containing the hypothalamus were then dissected and immersed in a 15% sucrose solution at 4 C for 1–2 days before 60-µm-thick coronal sections of the entire hypothalamus were cut on a freezing microtome. The sections were maintained in cryoprotectant at -20 C until immunocytochemical analysis was undertaken.

Exp 2. The investigation of the potential sexually dimorphic nature of the NKB neurons was performed on brain sections taken from male (n = 7), female (n = 7), and androgenized female (n = 7) Poll Dorset sheep. The LH secretion profiles of all of these sheep, showing the complete sex reversal of the androgenized females, have been reported recently (13). In brief, pregnant ewes were divided into two groups, with one receiving biweekly im injections of testosterone proprionate (100 mg; Sigma, Dorset, UK) from days 30–90 of gestation (term, 147 days) while the other group did not received any injection. The lambs were all gonadectomized between 3–5 weeks of age and immediately given a 3-cm SILASTIC implant (Dow Corning Corp., Midland, MI) containing crystalline estradiol, which maintains estradiol levels (8–12 pg/ml) within the physiological range. Animals were killed at 2 yr of age, 2 weeks after the removal of all gonadal steroid implants.

Animals were anesthetized and decapitated, and both carotid arteries were catheterized. Approximately 0.5 liter heparinized saline followed by 3 liters 4% paraformaldehyde in PBS (pH 7.4) were then infused into the carotids using an automatic pump over a period of 20 min. The brain was removed, and a block of tissue containing the hypothalamus was dissected and placed in the fixative solution for a further 24 h before immersion in a 30% sucrose, Tris-buffered saline (TBS) solution (pH 7.4) for 1–2 days. Coronal sections (30 µm thick) were then cut on a freezing microtome and maintained in cryoprotectant at -20 C until immunocytochemical analysis was undertaken.

Exp 3. The acute effects of estrogen on NKB mRNA expression in the ewe were examined using one set of brain sections prepared as part of an earlier study that investigated the profile of GnRH mRNA expression over the course of the estrogen-induced LH surge in the Clun-Forest ewe (14). In brief, ewes in that study were ovariectomized and run through two artificial 14-day estrous cycles. After the first artificial cycle in which the timing of the LH surge was noted for each individual ewe, animals were split into two groups, and received either estradiol implants (4 x 3 cm) or sham implants. Ewes were then anesthetized and killed at one of several time points in relation to the time of capsule implantation and the predicted onset of the LH surge; pre-E (n = 6), immediately before estradiol insertion; presurge (n = 5), 8 h after estradiol insertion, but before the onset of the LH surge; ascending limb (n = 8), 22.4 ± 1.5 h after the estradiol implant and 2–6 h after the start of the LH surge; or midpeak (n = 7), 26.2 ± 0.7 h after estradiol implant and just after the peak of the LH surge. Five ewes receiving the control treatment were killed alongside the estradiol-implanted ewes at each time point, except that of pre-E. Blood samples were taken from all animals at 30- to 60-min intervals up until the time of death, and the LH secretion profiles of ewes in each of these groups were reported previously (14). Ewes were decapitated, the brains were rapidly removed, and blocks of tissue containing the hypothalamus were frozen on dry ice. Tissue was kept at -70 C until 15-µm-thick coronal sections through the hypothalamus were cut on a cryostat (Bright, Huntingdon, UK), mounted onto Vectabond (Vector Laboratories, Inc., Peterborough, UK)-coated slides, and stored at -70 C.

Immunocytochemistry procedures
NKB single labeling immunocytochemistry. Free floating sections were washed in 40% methanol/TBS/1% H2O2 solution for 5 min to deactivate endogenous peroxidases, washed in TBS, and then incubated for 40 h at 4 C in a polyclonal guinea-pig antiserum specific for NKB (1:6000; IS-3/61), which was raised against a 40-amino acid peptide sequence (P2) immediately N-terminal to NKB within the precursor protachykinin B precursor (9, 15). Sections were next placed in biotinylated rabbit antiguinea-pig Igs (1:400; Vector Laboratories, Inc.) for 4 h at room temperature, and immunoreactivity was revealed with the glucose oxidase nickel-enhanced diaminobenzidene tetrahydrochloride (Ni-DAB) technique as reported previously (16, 17). Adsorption experiments were undertaken using primary antibody that had been incubated overnight at working dilution with 10-5 M P2 peptide.

Dual labeling of NKB and ER{alpha} or GnRH. The dual labeling of NKB and ER{alpha} was undertaken using a previously reported protocol in the sheep brain (17, 18). Briefly, immunostaining was first performed for ER{alpha} using a monoclonal mouse antibody specific for the N-terminal domain of the human ER, which has been well characterized for use in the ovine brain (ID5, 1:10 supernatant; 40 h at 4C; gift from G. Delsol, Toulouse, France; now available from DAKO Corp., Carpenteria, CA) (17, 18). Biotinylated horse antimouse Igs (1:400; Vector Laboratories, Inc.) were then applied for 90 min at room temperature, followed by the Vector Elite Kit (1:100; Vector Laboratories, Inc.; 90 min at room temperature) with visualization of peroxidase performed with Ni-DAB. Sections were then washed in TBS and processed for NKB immunocytochemistry as described above, but using DAB alone without the nickel as a chromagen.

The potential relationship between NKB and GnRH populations was investigated using a similar sequential double immunocytochemistry procedure. NKB immunoreactivity was first revealed using Ni-DAB as described above, followed by staining for GnRH using a polyclonal rabbit antiserum (LR1; 1:20,000; 40 h at 4 C; gift from R. Benoit, Montréal, Canada) as described previously in the ovine brain (16, 19). Sections were then washed and placed in peroxidase-labeled antirabbit Igs (1:400; Vector Laboratories, Inc.; 4 h at room temperature), and immunoreactivity was revealed with DAB alone.

Analysis. Analysis of the distribution of dual labeled NKB-ER{alpha} cells, and NKB immunoreactivity in male, female, and androgenized female sheep was undertaken in mediobasal hypothalamic sections extending from the rostral to the caudal end of the ARN. The ARN was divided into rostral (rARN), middle (mARN), and caudal (cARN) divisions on the basis of gross mediobasal hypothalamus anatomy and, where appropriate, ER staining (20). Sections containing the rARN were those where the supraoptic nucleus still existed, and the ventricular wall remained vertical at the median eminence (plate H in Ref. 20 ; Fig. 1AGo); mARN sections were those where the fornix was midway down the length of the third ventricle, and the infundibular recess of the third ventricle was beginning to appear (plate I in Ref. 20 ; Fig. 1BGo); cARN sections were those where the infundibular recess of the third ventricle was at its full extent (plate J in Ref. 20). Cells were considered double labeled if a complete ring of cytoplasmic DAB staining was encountered around a Ni-DAB-stained nucleus. Single labeled cells either exhibited nuclear Ni-DAB staining alone or a DAB cell profile with nuclear exclusion of immunoreactivity. For each animal, mean cell profile values for each of these three regions were obtained by counting all immunostained cells in a minimum of three coronal brain sections at each level. In Exp 2, we estimated the cell size of immunoreactive NKB neurons by drawing around the cytoplasmic perimeter of stained cells using a Seescan Sonata II image analyzer (Seescan, Cambridge, UK), which then determined the two-dimensional cell area. Statistical analyses were undertaken using ANOVA with post-hoc Tukey-Kramer multiple comparisons.



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Figure 1. Low-power photomicrographs of NKB immunoreactivity at the level of the rostral (A) and middle (B) ARN in an intact adult Ile-de-France ewe. Scale bar, 300 µm.

 
Putative associations between NKB fibers and GnRH cell bodies were analyzed by calculating the percentage of GnRH neurons with NKB fibers in close proximity to GnRH perikarya. For each animal, all GnRH cell bodies in a minimum of three coronal sections were analyzed at each of the following anatomical levels; diagonal band of Broca (DBB), rostral preoptic area (rPOA), and anterior hypothalamic area (AHA).

In situ hybridization procedure
In situ hybridization was performed as previously described (13) using a 25-mer synthetic oligonucleotide (CCCACAAAGAAGTCATGCATGTCAC; Genosys-Sigma, Pampisford, UK) complementary to human, bovine, and mouse prepro-NKB mRNA. Briefly, brain sections were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde in 0.1 M PBS, dehydrated through a series of increasing alcohol concentrations, and allowed to air-dry. Hybridization buffer [20 x SSC (saline sodium citrate), 50% deionized formamide, 10% dextran sulfate, 1 x Denhardt’s solution, 250 µg/ml sheared salmon testicular DNA, and 0.3% ß-mercaptoethanol] containing the 35S-labeled NKB probe was then applied to each slide (250 µl) containing three brain sections. Hybridization was carried out in humidified chambers at 37 C overnight. Hybridized sections were washed in 1 x SSC at room temperature, three times in 1 x SSC at 55 C (30 min each), and again in 1 x SSC for 1 h at room temperature. Sections were then dipped in Ilford K-5 nuclear track emulsion and exposed for 3 months in light-tight boxes. All slides were developed with Ilford Phenisol and lightly counterstained with methylene blue. Hybridization specificity was assessed by comparison with the cell body distribution after NKB immunostaining and use of competition experiments in which probes were hybridized to sections in the presence of a 50-fold excess of unlabeled NKB probe.

Analysis. The number of cells expressing NKB mRNA was determined for each animal by counting the number of positively hybridized cells in the cARN. Cells were considered to be positively hybridized when silver grains were found clustered over a methylene blue-counterstained cell body.

The cellular NKB mRNA content was assessed by analyzing silver grain density over individual cells in the cARN using a Seescan Sonata II image analyzer coupled to a Leica Corp. Orthoplan microscope (Rockleigh, NJ) as reported previously (14). With this system the operator outlines the silver grain cluster over each cell, and a silver grain density is determined. A minimum of 30 hybridized cells were analyzed from 2 different sections in each ewe. Individual values were used to provide an average silver grain density for each animal, and these values used to form group means at each time point. Statistical analysis between time points within the control and estrogen-treated experimental groups were assessed using ANOVA with Tukey’s post-hoc test.


    Results
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Exp 1: NKB immunoreactivity and its relationship to ER{alpha} and GnRH
Within the hypothalamus, a large population of NKB-immunoreactive cells was detected throughout the ARN and immediately adjacent area (Fig. 1Go) with only a small number identified in the median eminence (ME). The distribution of this neuronal population exhibited a clear rostrocaudal topography, with the majority of immunoreactive cells being found in the middle and caudal parts of the ARN (Fig. 1Go). Outside of the ARN, NKB-immunoreactive cell body staining was also found in the POA, although the numbers of immunoreactive cells were very few (<2 cells/section). Fibers immunoreactive for NKB were identified throughout the hypothalamus as well as the POA, lateral septum, and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, but were particularly prominent in the paraventricular nuclei and ARN. Control experiments using adsorbed NKB antibody resulted in a complete absence of immunoreactivity.

The distribution of ER{alpha}-immunoreactive cells in the ARN was identical to that reported previously in the ewe (17, 20). Double labeled cells were easily identified by the prominent Ni-DAB staining of the nucleus (ER{alpha}) combined with the brown granular DAB immunoreactivity (NKB) of the cytoplasm (Fig. 2Go, A and B). Dual labeling immunocytochemistry revealed that essentially all NKB-immunoreactive cells throughout the ARN expressed ER{alpha} immunoreactivity (Fig. 2AGo). A quantitative analysis of the dual labeling in the Ile-de-France ewes showed that 96.8 ± 0.2% of the NKB-positive cells expressed ER{alpha} immunoreactivity. Control experiments in which the NKB antibody was omitted in the second immunostaining resulted in a complete absence of brown DAB staining.



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Figure 2. Photomicrographs of sections dual labeled for ER{alpha} and NKB in the cARN (A and B) and GnRH and NKB in the median eminence (C) and rostral POA (D). A, Nine dual labeled cells (black nuclear staining represents ER{alpha}; brown represents NKB). C and D, Brown immunoreactivity is GnRH, and black staining is NKB. The arrow indicates a NKB fiber in close proximity to GnRH perikarya. Scale bars, 150 µm (A), 10 µm (BD), and 25 µm (C).

 
The overall distribution of GnRH neurons was the same as that reported previously in the ovine brain (19). Analysis of the five Ile-de-France ewes revealed that fibers immunoreactive for NKB were found within close proximity (Fig. 2DGo) to 24 ± 2% of the GnRH neurons located in the DBB, 39 ± 4% of those in the rPOA, and 23 ± 6% of those in the AHA (Fig. 3Go). No other topographical pattern of association between NKB fibers and GnRH neurons was detected (Fig. 3Go). NKB fibers were also found intermingled with GnRHimmunoreactive fibers in the ME of all animals (Fig. 2CGo).



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Figure 3. Camera lucida diagrams showing the distribution of GnRH-immunoreactive cells contacted by NKB fibers (X) or not (•) at three different hypothalamic levels in a representative adult Ile-de-France ewe. AC, Anterior commissure; AHA, anterior hypothalamic area; DBB, diagonal band of Broca; F, fornix; GP, globus pallidus; OC, optic chiasm; rPOA, rostral preoptic area.

 
Exp 2: sexually differentiated NKB immunoreactivity
The pattern of cell body and fiber staining for NKB in the Poll Dorset sheep was identical to that observed in the Ile-de-France ewes. No difference in the overall anatomical distribution of the NKB-immunoreactive cells was seen among the three groups of Dorset animals. However, a larger number of NKB neurons was detected in the ARN of females compared with male or androgenized female sheep (Fig. 4Go). A closer analysis on a rostrocaudal basis revealed that this difference was most apparent in the cARN, where NKB cells are most abundant (Fig. 5Go; 85 ± 13, 42 ± 4 and 48 ± 5 NKB-immunoreactive neurons per hemisection in females, androgenized females, and males, respectively; P < 0.01). No significant sex differences were detected in the rARN or mARN (Fig. 5Go). We also found that the relative cell size of NKB neurons, as assessed by NKB immunostaining, was significantly reduced in males (133 ± 3 µm2) and androgenized females (136 ± 7 µm2) compared with that in normal ewes (177 ± 5 µm2; P < 0.01). Although not quantified, NKB fiber density in the ARN also appeared reduced in the male and androgenized female sheep compared with that in the untreated ewes (Fig. 4Go).



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Figure 4. Low power photomicrographs of NKB immunoreactivity in the caudal ARN of adult female (A), in utero androgenized female (B), and male (C) gonadectomized sheep. Scale bar, 300 µm.

 


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Figure 5. Histograms depicting the mean (±SEM) numbers of NKB-immunoreactive cell profiles detected in the three regions of the ARN in adult female, androgenized female (female + T), and male gonadectomized sheep. **, P < 0.01.

 
Exp 3: effect of estrogen treatment on NKB mRNA expression
Cells exhibiting clusters of silver grains were detected throughout the ARN of the hypothalamus (Fig. 6Go) with a topography identical to that observed with NKB immunocytochemistry. No silver grain clusters were detected after hybridization in the presence of excess unlabeled probe. The largest number of hybridized cells was localized to the caudal part of the nucleus, where a quantitative analysis of cellular silver grain density was undertaken. The numbers of hybridized cells detected in the various groups did not exhibit any significant differences. Mean (±SEM) numbers of hybridized cells per hemisection were 61 ± 1, 75 ± 8, 69 ± 3, and 73 ± 9 in pre-E, presurge, ascending limb, and midpeak groups and 70 ± 10, 58 ± 6, and 64 ± 13 in the three control groups, respectively. Equally, despite a trend for increased NKB expression 8 h after estrogen, we detected no significant differences in cellular silver grain density across the four time points in E-treated ewes or in relation to the controls (Fig. 7Go).



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Figure 6. Low (A) and high (B) power views of neurons expressing NKB mRNA in the caudal ARN of a Clun-Forest control-treated ewe. *, Premammillary recess of the third ventricle. Scale bar, 200 µm (A) and 5 µm (B).

 


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Figure 7. Mean cellular NKB mRNA content (±SEM) of hybridized cells in the cARN after treatment with estrogen ({blacksquare}) for 8 h (Pre-surge), 22 h (Ascend), and 26 h (Mid-peak) compared with ewes given no estrogen ({square}) but killed at the same time. The Pre-E group was killed before estrogen administration. Names refer to the state of the LH surge as defined previously for these animals (14 ). No significant effects were determined.

 

    Discussion
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to examine the NKB neuronal population of the sheep hypothalamus. The perfect neuroanatomical correlation found here between NKB immunoreactivity and NKB mRNA expression is strongly suggestive that we have identified the ovine NKB cell population and that both the NKB antisera and oligonucleotide probe are highly specific. Further support for this specificity comes from the very similar pattern of NKB expression observed within the hypothalamus of other mammalian species (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9), where the NKB is found principally within the ARN. In particular, we note that the marked rostrocaudal topography of NKB neurons within the ovine ARN has also been identified in the rat (8). Together, these findings indicate that the pattern of NKB expression by hypothalamic neurons may be highly conserved in mammalian species.

We demonstrate here, using dual labeling immunocytochemistry, that essentially all NKB neurons in the ovine ARN express ER{alpha}. This degree of ER synthesis is quite remarkable given the marked heterogeneity and often low level of ER coexpression observed in other neuronal phenotypes of the sheep (21) and other species (2). Previous ER{alpha} dual labeling studies in the ARN nucleus have only identified approximately 20% of ß-endorphin (22) and 15% of neuropeptide Y (17) neurons to contain ER{alpha} immunoreactivity in the sheep, and similar low percentages are evident in the rat (23). Intriguingly, studies in the male rat have similarly shown that all NKB neurons in the ARN express the androgen receptor (15). As such, these results suggest that the NKB neuronal population of the hypothalamic ARN is probably a highly gonadal steroid-sensitive neuronal population.

We also show that the NKB neurons of the ARN represent a sexually dimorphic neuronal population. Again, to the best of our knowledge, these neurons represent the first sexually differentiated cell population identified in the ovine hypothalamus. It also appears that sex differences in NKB have not been examined or reported in any other species. This female-dominant sex difference in the ewe was only observed at the level of the caudal ARN; however, this is where approximately 70% of all hypothalamic NKB-expressing cells are found. Using brain tissue from sheep exposed to androgens between days 30 and 90 of gestation, we have been able to demonstrate that this sex difference is engendered in a seemingly classic organizational manner during early development. The absence of any significant effects of estrogen on NKB mRNA expression in the ovariectomized adult female provides some initial evidence that activational effects of gonadal steroids may not contribute further to this sex difference in this species. The androgenization model used in this study (13) is well established to permanently masculinize a wide range of physiological and behavioral axes in the ewe, including that of gonadotropin secretion (24, 25). Thus, it appears reasonable at this stage to speculate that the highly estrogen-sensitive, female-dominant NKB neurons of the ARN may play a role in one or several of these sexually differentiated features of the sheep.

As the gonadotropic axis of the prenatally androgenized female sheep is unable to respond appropriately to estrogen or progesterone feedback at the level of the hypothalamus (13, 25), it is tempting to hypothesize that the NKB neuronal population identified in this study may play a role in the regulation of GnRH neurons. Using dual labeling immunocytochemistry we first examined whether a direct relationship between NKB fibers and GnRH neurons may be possible. Although observations at the level of the conventional light microscope cannot determine connectivity, it is nevertheless interesting that a large number of NKB-immunoreactive fibers were identified to be in close proximity to GnRH cell bodies. Indeed, we found that the greatest number of GnRH perikarya in proximity to NKB fibers (~40%) occurred at the level of the rostral preoptic area, where GnRH neurons expressing Fos are concentrated at the time of the GnRH surge (26). We also noted an overlapping distribution of NKB and GnRH fibers in the ME. Both of these areas are known to express the neurokinin-3 receptor, specific for NKB, in rat (27). Thus, at a neuroanatomical level, these results suggest the possibility that NKB may regulate the activity of the GnRH neurons. Although the origin of these NKB fibers in close apposition to GnRH neuronal elements is unknown, the observation of substantial projections from estrogen-sensitive ARN neurons to both the rPOA (18) and ME (28) and the location of NKB cells almost exclusively within the ARN indicate the likelihood that these afferents originate from ER-expressing NKB neurons of the ARN.

If estrogen-receptive NKB neurons are involved in transmitting estrogen input to the GnRH neurons in a classic transsynaptic manner (2), it seemed possible that levels of NKB gene expression in these cells might be regulated by estrogen. Because of the putative association of NKB fibers with rPOA GnRH neurons and the female-dominant nature of NKB sex differences, we investigated here whether estrogen may regulate NKB mRNA levels in brain sections obtained from an ovine model of estrogen-positive feedback (14). Previous work undertaken on tissue from these animals had shown that GnRH mRNA levels declined before the LH surge in this species (14). Contrary to our hypothesis, we found that cellular NKB mRNA levels in the cARN did not change significantly over four time points up to and including 26 h after estrogen administration. Although it remains possible that estrogen exerted a short-lived and relatively fast (<8 h) effect on NKB, we have not been able to provide any definitive evidence for the modulation of NKB mRNA expression by estrogen in the ovariectomized ewe. However, investigations by Rance and colleagues (3, 5, 10) in the monkey and human have suggested that estrogen does impact on NKB gene expression in the primate. Interestingly, in all of those studies the endogenous or exogenous steroid manipulations took place over several days to weeks, and it is possible that NKB synthesis is not regulated in the short term as investigated here. In support of this hypothesis, work in the rat has shown that a single injection of estrogen was without any effect on NKB immunoreactivity, whereas a 2-week treatment with estrogen resulted in a decrease in the number of NKB cells detected in the ARN (29).

In summary, we report here the identification of a female-dominant, sexually dimorphic neuronal population in which essentially all NKB neurons express ER{alpha} in the ARN of the ovine brain. By association, it is very likely that these NKB neurons play a role in the gonadal steroid regulation of sexually differentiated functions in this species. We further provide neuroanatomical evidence suggesting that these NKB neurons may innervate GnRH neurons in the ewe and hypothesize that they may play a role in the estrogen-dependent regulation of the GnRH network. However, we have been unable to provide evidence for the regulation of NKB mRNA expression by estrogen in relation to the induction of the GnRH surge. Thus, estrogen may alter NKB neuronal function through other mechanisms or, as suggested in other species, in a longer term manner. The characterization here of a sexually dimorphic, highly estrogen-receptive neuronal population that may be highly conserved in mammals should provide the basis for examining the role of NKB in a variety of gonadal steroid-dependent reproductive functions.


    Acknowledgments
 
We thank Drs. G. Delsol and R. Benoit for the generous gifts of antisera, Dr. R. J. Bicknell for critical appraisal of the manuscript, and Mr. J. Taylor for technical assistance.


    Footnotes
 
1 This work was supported by the United Kingdom Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (to J.E.R. and A.E.H.) and a European Community Marie Curie Research Training Grant (to M.L.G.). Back

Received May 24, 2000.


    References
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 

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