Immunohistochemical localization of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in the brain and infundibulum of the sheep.

The distribution of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) was studied in the brain and infundibulum (INF) or median eminence of sheep utilizing a peroxidase-antiperoxidase immunohistochemical method. This procedure utilized a specific antiserum generated against GnRH conjugated to bovine serum albumin. In the rostral INF, the greatest concentration of GnRH positive axons was found in the medial region, mostly in the external layer dorsal to the hypophysial portal plexus. In the intermediate portion of the INF, the hormone was mainly observed in the external layer at the more dorsolateral areas ventral to the tuberoinfundibular sulcus. GnRH was generally located medially in the caudal portion of the INF and dorsomedially in the rostral infundibular stalk. Substantial amounts of reaction product were also noted in the internal layer throughout the entire rostrocaudal extent of the INF. The hormone was localized in axons throughout the brain from the septal and medial preoptic areas to the mammillary bodies. GnRH-positive perikarya were scattered in various regions of the infundibular (arcuate) and for the first time in the ventromedial nuclei of sheep hypothalamus. Preabsorption of the specific antiserum with synthetic GnRH abolished staining in both axons and perikarya, whereas preabsorption with thyrotropin-releasing hormone, oxytocin, arginine-vasopressin, and adrenocorticotrophic hormone did not affect staining intensity.