Endopeptidase-24.15 in rat hypothalamic/pituitary/gonadal axis

Adrian R. Pierotti, Abraham Lasdun, Julia M. Ayala, James L. Roberts, Christopher J. Molineaux

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

Endopeptidase-24.15 (E.C. 3.4.24.15; EP-24.15) cleaves several substrates found in the hypothalamic/pituitary/gonadal axis, including gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and the opioid peptides of the dynorphin family. We have examined the activity of EP-24.15 in these tissues as a function of maturation, of the estrous cycle, and in response to ovariectomy and estrogen replacement. A developmental regulation of EP-24.15-specific activity is apparent in anterior pituitary, in hypothalamus, and in the gonads. EP-24.15 is increased in the preoptic area and is decreased in the anterior pituitary in both male and female rats prior to puberty. The specific activity of EP-24.15 was increased following ovariectomy in the anterior pituitary and within medial and lateral preoptic nuclei. Testicular specific activity of EP-24.15 increased with age in a linear fashion, while ovarian EP-24.15 activity increased immediately prior to puberty, but returned to prepubertal levels by 65 days of age. The relevance of EP-24.15 to the metabolism of specific peptides is discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)95-103
Number of pages9
JournalMolecular and Cellular Endocrinology
Volume76
Issue number1-3
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1991
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Dynorphin
  • Gonadotropin-releasing hormone
  • Luteinizing hormone
  • Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone
  • Metalloendopeptidase

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Endocrinology

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