N-methyl D,L-aspartate induces the release of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone in the prepubertal and pubertal female rhesus monkey as measured by in vivo push-pull perfusion in the stalk-median eminence.

The role of the excitatory amino acid glutamate, N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor agonist, in stimulating in vivo luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) release in the stalk-median eminence of conscious prepubertal and pubertal female rhesus monkeys was evaluated using push-pull perfusion. In Exp 1, the effects of i.v. bolus injection of N-methyl D,L-aspartate (NMA) on LHRH release were examined. Injection of NMA induced an increase in LHRH release in all maturational stages of monkeys. Although the LHRH response to NMA tended to be larger in the older groups, only the duration of the LHRH response in the midpubertal group was significantly longer than that in the prepubertal group. In Exp 2, the effects of direct infusion of NMA (0.1, 1, and 100 microM) into the stalk-median eminence on LHRH release were similarly examined. NMA infusion stimulated LHRH release in pubertal monkeys, whereas it did not induce any consistent changes in LHRH release in prepubertal monkeys except for the highest dose. These data suggest that: 1) the systemic injection of NMA is more effective than direct infusion of NMA; and 2) the prepubertal LHRH neurosecretory system is capable of responding to NMDA, although the responsiveness may undergo developmental changes. Therefore, stimulation of NMDA receptors may contribute to the pubertal changes in the LHRH neurosecretory activity.