Effect of prenatal melatonin exposure on gonadotropins and prolactin secretion in male and female rat pups

• Published in: European journal of pharmacology Vol. 424; no. 3; pp. 229 - 235
• Main Authors: Okatani, Yuji, Wakatsuki, Akihiko, Otukonyong, Edet.E., Miyahara, Yasuyo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 27-07-2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Biological and medical sciences; Embryology: invertebrates and vertebrates. Teratology; Female; Follicle Stimulating Hormone - blood; Free Radical Scavengers - administration & dosage; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gonadotropin; Gonadotropins - blood; Hormones and neuropeptides. Regulation; Hypothalamus. Hypophysis. Epiphysis. Urophysis; Luteinizing Hormone - blood; Luteinizing Hormone - drug effects; Male; Melatonin; Melatonin - administration & dosage; Organogenesis. Physiological fonctions; Physiological fonctions; Pregnancy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Prolactin; Prolactin - blood; Prolactin - drug effects; Puberty; Rats; Sex Factors; Time Factors; Vertebrates: endocrinology; Pregnancy; Puberty; Melatonin; Gonadotropin; Prolactin; Rat; Aminoacid derivative hormone; Sex; Male; Protein hormone; Fetomaternal; Regulation(control); Chronobiology; Mother embryonal transfer; Luteinizing hormone; Female; Fetus; Nocturnal variation; Pineal hormone; Follicle stimulating hormone; Rodentia; Exposure; Diurnal variation; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Adenohypophyseal hormone; Prepuberty; Animal; Interindividual comparison; Exocrine secretion
• ISSN: 0014-2999; 1879-0712
• DOI: 10.1016/S0014-2999(01)01176-1

We evaluated whether melatonin administration to pregnant rats during the final week of pregnancy affects prepubertal secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and prolactin in offspring. Melatonin was administered in the drinking water from day 14 to delivery. LH, FSH and prolactin concentrations were determined in plasma sampled from offspring between 5 and 30 days in the dark portion of the diurnal cycle. Administration of 2 or 20 μg/ml melatonin did not affect LH or FSH in male or female offspring. The 20-μg/ml dose caused a significant increase in prolactin in males and females at day 15. In contrast, melatonin, 2 or 20 μg/ml, decreased prolactin at days 25 and 30 in females and day 25 in males. Thus, prenatal melatonin exposure alters prolactin secretion, but not that of LH and FSH in infantile and prepubertal male and female rats.