Hypothalamic adrenergic activity precedes the preovulatory luteinizing hormone surge in the rat

A preovulatory surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) is stimulated by an increase in plasma oestrogen (E2) and a proestrous neural signal which occurs during the 'critical period' (CP). Adrenergic activity during the CP in brain areas concerned with LH release and receiving adrenergic nerve terminals, increased in the arcuate nucleus-median eminence area (AN-ME) during the CP (14.30-16.30 h), but not in the adjacent perifornical area. Pentobarbital injected prior to the CP inhibited the effect as did ovariectomy, while E2 replacement restored it. Thus increased adrenergic activity in the AN-ME may represent the neural signal that triggers the preovulatory LH surge [5].