title: The control of the gonadotrophin releasing hormone pulse generator in relation to opioid and nutritional cues.
abstract: Human fertility is ultimately dependent upon the regular pulsatile release of gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) from hypothalamic neurons. The GnRH pulse generator is subject to modulation by a variety of substances, some of which reflect the individual's metabolic status. Endogenous opioids exert a tonic inhibitory effect on GnRH release; this opioid inhibition is dependent upon the gonadal steroid milieu, and may play a role in the initiation of the mid-cycle luteinizing hormone surge. Putative metabolic signals also influence the GnRH pulse generator, and after performing a cross-sectional hormonal and metabolic analysis of amenorrhoeic athletes, we propose that insulin-like growth factor binding protein 1 (IGFBP-1) is such a signal and may play a role in the initiation of puberty.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grossman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004723:Endorphins / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000502:physiology; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D010507:Periodicity
chemical_list: D004723:Endorphins; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone