Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Suppression of the Hypothalamic Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Pulse Generator in Ovariectomized Goats

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Ovariectomized goats were implanted with the electrode arrays for monitoring the electrophysiological manifestation of the activity of the hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse generator, namely multiple-unit activity (MUA) volleys associated with pulsatile luteinizing hormone secretion. They were then subjected to i.v. challenges of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at the dose of 200 or 400 ng/kg. The interval between the MUA volleys was significantly prolonged by higher dose of LPS whereas neither amplitude nor duration of the MUA volleys was altered. These results suggest that immunological disturbance as evoked by LPS administration directly affects the hypothalamic GnRH pulse generator by slowing down the pulse frequency, and thereby lowers gonadotropin secretion from the anterior pituitary gland, which would culminate in gonadal suppression.