Regional changes in GnRH immunoreactivity with puberty in the male Syrian hamster.

Gonadotropin-releasing-hormone immunopositive (GnRH+) neurons were identified in juvenile and adult male Syrian hamsters. There were significantly fewer GnRH+ cells in the diagonal band of Broca/organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis (DBB/OVLT) and medial septum (MS) in adults as compared to juvenile males, while no cell number difference was found in the preoptic area (POA). The decrease in cell number likely reflects reduced somal stores of GnRH in DBB/OVLT and MS, suggesting that these subpopulations promote increased GnRH release during pubertal maturation in male hamsters. Copyright 1999 Elsevier Science B.V.