Abstract
BACKGROUND: Reproductive maturation is initiated with the onset of puberty, which activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and coincidences with increased expression of the hormone kisspeptin within the hypothalamus. Maturational events are sensitive to environmental factors, including alcohol, which is known to delay reproductive development. We hypothesized that, similar to alcohol's adverse effects during reproductive maturation, prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) would alter pubertal markers, sex hormone profiles, and kisspeptin expression in the hypothalamus. METHODS: Female offspring from control (C), pair-fed (PF), and PAE groups were sacrificed prior to puberty onset (postnatal day [PND] 30), during puberty [PND 35], or in adulthood [PND 65]. Estradiol (E(2) ), progesterone (P(4) ), prolactin, and luteinizing hormone levels, and Kiss1 mRNA expression were measured in the arcuate (ARC) and anteroventral periventricular (AVPV) nuclei of the hypothalamus. Pubertal markers (vaginal opening [VO], uterus/body wt ratio) were assessed. RESULTS: Our findings indicate that (i) PAE inhibits the expected increases in E(2) levels with age and delays maturational increases of P(4) levels; (ii) PAE and pair feeding have similar adverse effects on VO and uterus/body wt ratio; (iii) differential relationships between PRL and P(4) suggest that different mechanisms may underlie delayed maturation in PAE and PF; that is, PF females have low PRL levels and no increase in P(4) with age, whereas PAE animals, despite low PRL, show the expected age-related increase in P(4) ; and (iv) there is higher mean density of Kiss1 mRNA in the ARC of adult PAE females and altered Kiss1 expression in the AVPV of both PAE and PF females. CONCLUSIONS: PAE and pair feeding have some overlapping but important differential effects on hormonal profiles and Kiss1 mRNA expression during reproductive development. Preadolescent alterations in Kiss1 expression in the AVPV and ARC, which may change the balance of function in these 2 nuclei, may differentially contribute to delayed reproductive maturation in PAE and PF compared to C females.