title: Testicular gonadotropin-releasing hormone activity, progression of spermatogenesis, and sperm transport in vertebrates.
abstract: Since the end of the 1970s, studies have shown that, besides the endocrine route, a chemical mediator may also act through autocrine and/or paracrine mechanisms. This has opened new frontiers for research as a result of a redefinition of what endocrinology represents. Apart from androgens within the male gonad, testicular gonadotropin-releasing hormone, estrogens, molecular chaperones, proto-oncogenes, and, very recently, the endocannabinoid system have been shown to play important roles. Their activities to regulate spermatogenesis, including spermiogenesis and sperm maturation, will be discussed from the comparative viewpoint to describe adaptive phenomena and to speculate on evolution.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Seconda Università di Napoli, Napoli, Italy. riccardo.pierantoni@unina2.it
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pierantoni
authors.forename: Gilda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cobellis
authors.forename: Rosaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meccariello
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cacciola
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chianese
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chioccarelli
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fasano
mesh_terms: D000220:Adaptation, Biological; D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone