title: Mechanisms underlying the tissue-specific and regulated activity of the Gnrhr promoter in mammals.
abstract: The GnRH receptor (GnRHR) plays a central role in the development and maintenance of reproductive function in mammals. Following stimulation by GnRH originating from the hypothalamus, GnRHR triggers multiple signaling events that ultimately stimulate the synthesis and the periodic release of the gonadotropins, luteinizing-stimulating hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormones (FSH) which, in turn, regulate gonadal functions including steroidogenesis and gametogenesis. The concentration of GnRHR at the cell surface is essential for the amplitude and the specificity of gonadotrope responsiveness. The number of GnRHR is submitted to strong regulatory control during pituitary development, estrous cycle, pregnancy, lactation, or after gonadectomy. These modulations take place, at least in part, at the transcriptional level. To analyze this facet of the reproductive function, the 5' regulatory sequences of the gene encoding the GnRHR have been isolated and characterized through in vitro and in vivo approaches. This review summarizes results obtained with the mouse, rat, human, and ovine promoters either by transient transfection assays or by means of transgenic mice.
authors.affiliation: Physiologie de l'Axe Gonadotrope, Biologie Fonctionnelle et Adaptative, EAC CNRS 4413, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Université Paris Diderot-Paris 7 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Anne-Laure
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Schang
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Quérat
authors.forename: Violaine
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: Ghislaine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Garrel
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bleux
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Counis
authors.forename: Joëlle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cohen-Tannoudji
authors.forename: Jean-Noël
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Laverrière