Biomaterial Database

Changes of beta-endorphin and somatostatin concentrations in different hypothalamic areas of female rats after chronic starvation. 1983

U A Knuth, and H G Friesen

To study the effect of starvation on hypothalamic beta-endorphin and somatostatin (SRIF) concentrations in relation to starvation induced anestrus, groups of 8 rats were fed 50% of their normal daily chow consumption. Rats were sacrificed after 4, 8, 12, and 16 days during diestrus or anestrus. beta-endorphin concentrations decreased in the preoptic suprachiasmatic area (0.52 +/- 0.13 vs 0.21 +/- 0.05 ng/mg tissue wet weight) and increased in the posterior hypothalamus (0.31 +/- 0.06 vs 0.57 +/- 0.11 ng/mg) after 4 days of starvation. No significant change occurred in the arcuate nucleus or in the median eminence. On day 8 and 12 of starvation, beta-endorphin was unaltered in all areas compared to controls. Vaginal smears showed constant diestrus in a significant number of rats (5 out of 8) after 12 days. beta-endorphin concentrations in the arcuate nuclei of these rats were significantly reduced on day 16 (1.00 +/- 0.33 vs 0.30 +/- 0.11 ng/mg). The SRIF levels changed only in the median eminence with increased concentrations on day 12 (45.2 +/- 8.4 vs 79.5 +/- 14.8 ng/mg). At this time serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL), and growth hormone (GH) were significantly reduced. The results indicate that changes in hypothalamic beta-endorphin accompany the events leading to starvation induced anestrus.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007031	Hypothalamus	Ventral part of the DIENCEPHALON extending from the region of the OPTIC CHIASM to the caudal border of the MAMMILLARY BODIES and forming the inferior and lateral walls of the THIRD VENTRICLE.	Lamina Terminalis,Preoptico-Hypothalamic Area,Area, Preoptico-Hypothalamic,Areas, Preoptico-Hypothalamic,Preoptico Hypothalamic Area,Preoptico-Hypothalamic Areas
D007032	Hypothalamus, Anterior	The front portion of the HYPOTHALAMUS separated into the preoptic region and the supraoptic region. The preoptic region is made up of the periventricular GRAY MATTER of the rostral portion of the THIRD VENTRICLE and contains the preoptic ventricular nucleus and the medial preoptic nucleus. The supraoptic region contains the PARAVENTRICULAR HYPOTHALAMIC NUCLEUS, the SUPRAOPTIC NUCLEUS, the ANTERIOR HYPOTHALAMIC NUCLEUS, and the SUPRACHIASMATIC NUCLEUS.	Hypothalamus, Supraoptic,Anterior Hypothalamic Commissure,Anterior Hypothalamic Decussation of Ganser,Anteroventral Periventricular Nucleus,Anterior Hypothalamic Commissures,Anterior Hypothalamus,Commissure, Anterior Hypothalamic,Commissures, Anterior Hypothalamic,Hypothalamic Commissure, Anterior,Hypothalamic Commissures, Anterior,Nucleus, Anteroventral Periventricular,Periventricular Nucleus, Anteroventral,Supraoptic Hypothalamus
D007034	Hypothalamus, Posterior	The part of the hypothalamus posterior to the middle region consisting of several nuclei including the medial maxillary nucleus, lateral mammillary nucleus, and posterior hypothalamic nucleus (posterior hypothalamic area). The posterior hypothalamic area is concerned with control of sympathetic responses and is sensitive to conditions of decreasing temperature and controls the mechanisms for the conservation and increased production of heat.	Hypothalamic Region, Posterior,Posterior Hypothalamic Region,Area Hypothalamica Posterior,Hypothalamus Posterior,Mammillary Region,Posterior Hypothalamus,Posterior Periventricular Nucleus,Premammillary Nucleus,Supramammillary Commissure,Supramammillary Nucleus,Area Hypothalamica Posteriors,Commissure, Supramammillary,Commissures, Supramammillary,Hypothalamic Regions, Posterior,Hypothalamica Posterior, Area,Hypothalamica Posteriors, Area,Hypothalamus Posteriors,Mammillary Regions,Nucleus, Posterior Periventricular,Nucleus, Premammillary,Nucleus, Supramammillary,Periventricular Nucleus, Posterior,Posterior Hypothalamic Regions,Posterior, Area Hypothalamica,Posterior, Hypothalamus,Posteriors, Area Hypothalamica,Posteriors, Hypothalamus,Region, Mammillary,Region, Posterior Hypothalamic,Regions, Mammillary,Regions, Posterior Hypothalamic,Supramammillary Commissures
D008473	Median Eminence	Raised area at the infundibular region of the HYPOTHALAMUS at the floor of the BRAIN, ventral to the THIRD VENTRICLE and adjacent to the ARCUATE NUCLEUS OF HYPOTHALAMUS. It contains the terminals of hypothalamic neurons and the capillary network of hypophyseal portal system, thus serving as a neuroendocrine link between the brain and the PITUITARY GLAND.	Eminentia Mediana,Medial Eminence,Eminence, Medial,Eminence, Median,Eminences, Medial,Eminentia Medianas,Medial Eminences,Mediana, Eminentia,Medianas, Eminentia
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011919	Rats, Inbred Strains	Genetically identical individuals developed from brother and sister matings which have been carried out for twenty or more generations or by parent x offspring matings carried out with certain restrictions. This also includes animals with a long history of closed colony breeding.	August Rats,Inbred Rat Strains,Inbred Strain of Rat,Inbred Strain of Rats,Inbred Strains of Rats,Rat, Inbred Strain,August Rat,Inbred Rat Strain,Inbred Strain Rat,Inbred Strain Rats,Inbred Strains Rat,Inbred Strains Rats,Rat Inbred Strain,Rat Inbred Strains,Rat Strain, Inbred,Rat Strains, Inbred,Rat, August,Rat, Inbred Strains,Rats Inbred Strain,Rats Inbred Strains,Rats, August,Rats, Inbred Strain,Strain Rat, Inbred,Strain Rats, Inbred,Strain, Inbred Rat,Strains, Inbred Rat
D004031	Diestrus	A phase of the ESTROUS CYCLES that follows METESTRUS. Diestrus is a period of sexual quiescence separating phases of ESTRUS in polyestrous animals.
D004723	Endorphins	One of the three major groups of endogenous opioid peptides. They are large peptides derived from the PRO-OPIOMELANOCORTIN precursor. The known members of this group are alpha-, beta-, and gamma-endorphin. The term endorphin is also sometimes used to refer to all opioid peptides, but the narrower sense is used here; OPIOID PEPTIDES is used for the broader group.	Endorphin
D005260	Female		Females
D000780	Anestrus	A state of sexual inactivity in female animals exhibiting no ESTROUS CYCLE. Causes of anestrus include pregnancy, presence of offspring, season, stress, and pathology.