The area postrema mediates insulin hypoglycaemia-induced suppression of pulsatile LH secretion in the female rat

The caudal brainstem has been implicated in mediating the suppressive effec t of glucoprivation on the reproductive neuroendocrine axis, specifically i nhibition of pulsatile gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH)/luteinising h ormone (LH) release in the rat. In the present study, removal of the area p ostrema completely prevented the profound inhibitory effect of insulin-indu ced hypoglycaemic stress on pulsatile LH release. These results suggest a p ivotal role for this brainstem structure in mediating hypoglycaemic stress- induced suppression of the hypothalamic GnRH pulse generator. (C) 2000 Else vier Science B.V. All rights reserved.