Sexual differences in the distribution of neurons coexpressing galanin and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone in the rat brain.

We have recently reported that a subpopulation of galanin (GAL)-immunoreactive perikarya in the preoptic area near the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis (OVLT) has morphological characteristics similar to those of LHRH-containing neurons. In fact, both peptides are colocalized in those neurons in the male rat brain. In these studies we describe sexual differences in the incidence of neurons colocalizing GAL and LHRH in this region. In male rats, about 20% of LHRH-immunoreactive cells in the diagonal band of Broca and the medial preoptic area are also immunoreactive for GAL. In contrast, in female rats, about 65% of LHRH-containing perikarya near the OVLT are immunostained for GAL. In addition, GAL and LHRH levels were measured in tissue extracts containing either the OVLT and surrounding areas or the median eminence. The data indicate that the preoptic area, including the OVLT, contains a significantly higher amount of GAL in females killed in proestrus than in those killed in estrus. The amount of GAL measured in males is lower than that in the proestrous females, but somewhat greater than that present in the estrous females. There were no significant differences among the three groups in LHRH content in this region. The GAL content of the median eminence was the highest in proestrous females, followed by estrous females and males. The LHRH content in the median eminence was not significantly different among the three groups. In conclusion, these observations indicate that the coexpression of GAL with LHRH in a discrete subpopulation of LHRH-producing neurons is a sex-related phenomenon. The fact that changes in GAL levels in specific regions can be seen at different times during the estrous cycle suggests that gonadal steroids, possibly estrogens, may physiologically regulate the expression of GAL in this subpopulation of LHRH neurons.