[Monoamines and function of the ovaries in rats selected for elevated catatonic reactivity]

Levels of dopamine (DOPA), noradrenalin (NA), and serotonin in hypothalamus and function of ovaries (folliculogenesis) were studied at various estrous cycle stages of the rat GK line selected for elevated catatonia. The control was the outbred Wistar line. Selection for elevated catatonia led to a decrease of the number of all cell types in GK ovaries in diestrus and proestrus. In estrus of the GK females, on the contrary, there was a tendency for an increase of the number of the growing follicles as compared with Wistar females. On the background of a decrease of the DOPA and NA content in hypothalamus of the GK line rats, the higher catecholamine level was observed in estrus and the lower--in diestrus. Thus, selection for manifestation of the excessive protective catatonical type of reaction in the form of an increase of duration and intensity of freezing involves the monoaminergic brain system and leads to delay of folliculogenesis that is the key factor in regulation of fertility.