title: Regulation of gonadotropin secretion and puberty onset by neuromedin U.
abstract: Neuromedin U (NMU), an anorexigenic peptide, was originally isolated from porcine spinal cord in 1985. As NMU is abundant in the anterior pituitary gland, we investigated the effects of NMU on gonadotropin secretion. Both NMU and its receptors, NMUR1 and NMUR2, were expressed in the pituitary gland. NMU suppressed LH and FSH releases from rat anterior pituitary cells. Moreover, NMU-deficient mice exhibit an early onset of vaginal opening. The LHbeta/FSHbeta ratio, which is an index of puberty onset, is high in young NMU-deficient mice. These results indicate that NMU suppresses gonadotropin secretion and regulates the onset of puberty.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Genetics, Institute of Life Science, Kurume University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukue
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Teranishi
authors.forename: Reiko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hanada
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Yoshiki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakashima
authors.forename: Masayasu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kojima
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D012741:Sexual Maturation
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D006062:Gonadotropins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C056900:neuromedin U; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone