Effects of brief exposure of male pheromone on multiple-unit activity at close proximity to kisspeptin neurons in the goat arcuate nucleus.

Exposure of females to the male pheromone induces pulsatile release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in goats. Recently, kisspeptin neurons in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) have been suggested to represent the proximate source of the GnRH pulse generator. In this study, we examined the effects of the pheromone on multiple-unit activity (MUA) in female goats fitted with recording electrodes aimed at the ARC kisspeptin neurons. In all eight goats, periodic bursts in MUA (MUA volleys), which were considered to be electrophysiological manifestations of the GnRH pulse generator, were observed. The mean intervolley interval (T) during the control period was calculated in each goat that was then exposed to the male pheromone for 1 sec at timings of 1/4 T, 1/2 T or 3/4 T after one regularly occurring MUA volley. An instantaneous rise in MUA was observed immediately after the exposure regardless of timing. Exposure at a timing of 3/4 T resulted in an MUA volley within 60 sec following the instantaneous rise in all goats. In contrast, an MUA volley was induced in only 2 goats by exposure at 1/2 T, while exposure at 1/4 T failed to induce an MUA volley in any goats. These results suggest that transmission of the pheromone signal to the ARC, represented by an instantaneous rise, activates the GnRH pulse generator. Moreover, the timing-dependent pheromone action in inducing an MUA volley indicates that the GnRH pulse generator has a refractory period for the pheromone signal after the burst.