Corticotrophin-releasing factor type 2 receptor-mediated suppression of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone mRNA expression in GT1-7 cells

James S. Kinsey-Jones, Xiao Feng Li, James E. Bowe, Stafford L. Lightman, Kevin T. O'Byrne*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    21 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) released during stress has been implicated in the suppression of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, especially the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse generator, the central neural regulator of pituitary LH and FSH secretion, resulting in reproductive dysfunction. The gonadal steroid 17β-oestradiol (E 2) has been shown to enhance CRF- and stress-induced suppression of pulsatile LH secretion. In the present study, we investigated the potential direct action of CRF on GnRH neurones by using GT1-7 cells, an established GnRH cell line. Furthermore, we investigated the modulatory influence of E 2 on the effects of CRF and expression of CRF type 2 receptors (CRF-R2). Expression of CRF-R2 in the GT1-7 cells was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). CRF produced a dose-dependent suppression of GnRH mRNA expression, an effect reversed by the selective CRF-R2 antagonist, astressin2-B (Ast2-B). E2 combined with CRF resulted in a greater suppression of GnRH expression compared with either treatment alone. E2 also increased CRF-R2 expression. These results demonstrate for the first time expression of CRF-R2 in the GT1-7 cells and suggest that CRF may directly regulate GnRH gene expression, an effect mediated, at least in part, by CRF-R2. They also raise the possibility that up-regulation of CRF-R2 may contribute to the sensitising influence of E 2 on CRF- and stress-induced suppression of the GnRH pulse generator.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)215-222
    Number of pages8
    JournalStress
    Volume9
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2006

    Keywords

    • CRF
    • CRF-R2
    • GnRH
    • GT1-7
    • Stress

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