title: Hypothalamic glial-to-neuronal signaling during puberty: influence of alcohol.
abstract: Mammalian puberty requires complex interactions between glial and neuronal regulatory systems within the hypothalamus that results in the timely increase in the secretion of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH). Assessing the molecules required for the development of coordinated communication networks between glia and LHRH neuron terminals in the basal hypothalamus, as well as identifying substances capable of affecting cell-cell communication are important. One such pathway involves growth factors of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family that bind to specific erbB receptors. Activation of this receptor results in the release of prostaglandin-E(2) (PGE(2)) from adjacent glial cells, which then acts on the nearby LHRH nerve terminals to elicit release of the peptide. Another pathway involves novel genes which synthesize adhesion/signaling proteins responsible for the structural integrity of bi-directional glial-neuronal communication. In this review, we will discuss the influence of these glial-neuronal communication pathways on the prepubertal LHRH secretory system, and furthermore, discuss the actions and interactions of alcohol on these two signaling processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4458, USA. vsrivastava@cvm.tamu.edu
authors.forename: Vinod K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Srivastava
authors.forename: Jill K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Hiney
authors.forename: W Les
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Dees
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000431:Ethanol / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems; D011627:Puberty; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D000431:Ethanol