This project sought to describe the roles of the dorsomedial-ventromedial nuclei (DMN-VMN) and the medial preoptic area (MPOA) in the regulation of mating-induced prolactin secretion in the female rat. Stimulation of the uterine cervix as in mating, initiates the recurring secretion of daily nocturnal and diurnal surges of prolactin. The DMN-VMN is an important regulatory area for the prolactin surges and operates as a stimulatory center. Electrical stimulation of this area mimics the effects of cervical stimulation inducing both surges of prolactin. The DMN-VMN is essential for induction of the diurnal surge. Electrolytic lesions of the DMN-VMN prevent initiation of diurnal surges by cervical stimulation without affecting nocturnal surge secretion. The regulatory functions of this area are sexually specific and sexually reversible. DMN-VMN stimulation has no effect on prolactin release in normal adult males rates but can trigger nocturnal surges in neonatally feminized male rats. The MPOA also has multiple regulatory functions, serving as an inhibitory center for the nocturnal surge and as both a stimulatory and inhibitory center for the diurnal surge. In conscious, cervically stimulated females electrical stimulation of the MPOA inhibits release of nocturnal or diurnal surges. In anesthetized, non-cervically stimulated females stimulation of the MPOA induces a diurnal surge. Also, electrolytic lesions of the MPOA terminate the diurnal surges in cervically stimulated rats. The prolactin inhibitory role of the MPOA is not sex specific. Lesions of the MPOA trigger nocturnal surges in females and small nocturnal and diurnal surges in males. MPOA stimulation inhibits the nocturnal surge but can not induce a diurnal surge in females bearing lesions of the DMN-VMN. This indicates that the MPOA functions independently of the DMN-VMN for nocturnal surge regulation while these two areas function together for regulation of the diurnal surge. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 45-09, Section: B, page: 2827. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1984.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_75417 |
| Contributors | GUNNET, JOSEPH WINFIELD, JR., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 280 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
Page generated in 0.0051 seconds