Substance P downregulates basal and gonadotropin-releasing hormone-induced gonadotropin in vitro secretion by pituitary gland of crested newt, Triturus carnifex

The possible role of Substance P (SP) was studied in the modulation of basal and gonadotopin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-induced gonadotropin secretion in the urodele crested newt, Triturus carnifex. During prereproduction, reproduction (noncourtship and courtship), refractory, recovery and aestivation, male and female pituitaries were incubated with medium-alone, GnRH, SP, GnRH receptor antagonist (antide), and SP receptor antagonist (L-703606). Since antisera raised against gonadotropins are not available for this species, we measured these hormones indirectly through their effects on the secretion of testicular androgens and ovarian progesterone from gonads superfused with the preincubated pituitaries. Pituitaries of both sexes preincubated with medium-alone, GnRH, GnRH plus L-703606, and GnRH plus SP plus L-703606 increased steroid secretion during prereproduction, noncourtship, courtship, and recovery; the increase induced by the pituitaries incubated with medium-alone was lower during prereproduction, noncourtship, and recovery. Pituitaries preincubated with SP, GnRH plus SP, GnRH plus SP plus antide, and SP plus antide did not change basal steroid secretion in any of the reproductive phases considered. Antide, L-703606, GnRH plus antide, GnRH plus SP plus antide plus L-703606, SP plus L-703606, and antide plus L-703606 experimental groups showed the same results as those with medium-alone. These results suggest that SP downregulates gonadotropin release in both Triturus carnifex sexes. In addition, an antagonist role, through receptor-independent mechanisms, exists between GnRH (upregulation) and SP (downregulation) in the modulation of pituitary.