title: Neuroendocrine mechanisms controlling female puberty: new approaches, new concepts.
abstract: Sexual development and mature reproductive function are controlled by a handful of neurones that, located in the basal forebrain, produce the decapeptide luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH). LHRH is released into the portal system that connects the hypothalamus to the pituitary gland and act on the latter to stimulate the synthesis and release of gonadotrophin hormones. The pubertal activation of LHRH release requires coordinated changes in excitatory and inhibitory inputs to LHRH-secreting neurones. These inputs are provided by both transsynaptic and glia-to-neurone communication pathways. Using cellular and molecular approaches, in combination with transgenic animal models and high-throughput procedures for gene discovery, we are gaining new insight into the basic mechanisms underlying this dual control of LHRH secretion and, hence, the initiation of mammalian puberty. Our results suggest that the initiation of puberty requires reciprocal neurone-glia communication involving excitatory amino acids and growth factors, and the coordinated actions of a group of transcriptional regulators that appear to represent a higher level of control governing the pubertal process.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center/Oregon, Health & Science University, Beaverton, 97006, USA. ojedas@ohsu.edu
authors.forename: Sergio R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Ojeda
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mungenast
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heger
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mastronardi
authors.forename: Anne-Simone
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Parent
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lomniczi
authors.forename: Heike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001253:Astrocytes; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus; D009457:Neuroglia; D009474:Neurons; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000502:physiology*; D011627:Puberty; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone