Effects of ghrelin upon gonadotropin-releasing hormone and gonadotropin secretion in adult female rats: in vivo and in vitro studies.

A reproductive facet of ghrelin, a stomach-derived orexigenic peptide involved in energy homeostasis, has been recently suggested, and predominantly inhibitory effects of ghrelin upon luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion have been demonstrated in rat models. Yet, the modulatory actions of ghrelin on the gonadotropic axis remain scarcely evaluated. We report herein a detailed analysis of the effects of ghrelin upon LH and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion in the female rat, using a combination of in vivo and in vitro approaches. Intracerebroventricular administration of ghrelin (3 nmol/rat) evoked a significant inhibition of LH secretion in cyclic female rats throughout the estrous cycle (proestrus afternoon, estrus, metestrus), as well as in ovariectomized females. In good agreement, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion by hypothalamic fragments from ovariectomized females was significantly inhibited by ghrelin. In contrast, ghrelin dose-dependently stimulated basal LH and FSH secretion by pituitary tissue in vitro; a phenomenon that was proven dependent on the phase of estrous cycle, as it was neither detected at estrus nor observed after ovariectomy. Conversely, GnRH-stimulated LH secretion in vitro was persistently inhibited by ghrelin regardless of the stage of the cycle, whereas stimulated FSH secretion was only inhibited by ghrelin at estrus. In addition, cyclic fluctuations in mRNA levels of growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R)1a, i.e. the functional ghrelin receptor, were observed in the pituitary, with low values at estrus and metestrus. GHS-R1a mRNA levels, however, remained unchanged after ovariectomy. In summary, our data illustrate a complex mode of action of ghrelin upon the gonadotropic axis, with predominant inhibitory effects at central (hypothalamic) levels and upon GnRH-induced gonadotropin secretion, but direct stimulatory actions on basal LH and FSH secretion. Overall, our results further document the reproductive role of ghrelin, which might be relevant for the integrated control of energy balance and reproduction.