Hemigonadectomy-induced unilateral changes in the protein-synthesizing activity of the rat hypothalamic arcuate...

The effect of unilateral ovariectomy on the protein-synthesizing activity of the hypothalamic arcuate and dorsomedial nucleus on both sides was studied in vivo as well as in vitro. Four weeks after the removal of 1 ovary, there was a significant increase in labelled amino acid incorporated into the arcuate neurons contralateral to the removed ovary as compared to those incorporated into the nerve cells of the nucleus on the ipsilateral side. In the dorsomedial nucleus, there was no difference between the 2 sides. On the basis of the present findings, the existence of a neural pathway between the ovary and the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus is assumed.