Hormonal Regulation of Female Reproduction

CHRISTENSEN, A.; BENTLEY, G.; CABRERA R.; ORTEGA, H.; PERFITO, N.; WU, T.; MICEVYCH, P.

HORMONE AND METABOLIC RESEARCH

GEORG THIEME VERLAG KG

Año: 2012 vol. 44 p. 587 - 591

0018-5043

Reproduction is an event that requires the coordinationof peripheral organs with the nervoussystem to ensure that the internal and externalenvironments are optimal for successful procreationof the species. This is accomplished by thehypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis that coordinatesreproductive behavior with ovulation.The primary signal from the central nervous systemis gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH),which modulates the activity of anterior pituitarygonadotropes regulating follicle stimulatinghormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH)release. As ovarian follicles develop they releaseestradiol, which negatively regulates furtherrelease of GnRH and FSH. As estradiol concentrationspeak they trigger the surge release ofGnRH, which leads to LH release inducing ovulation.Release of GnRH within the central nervoussystem helps modulate reproductive behaviorsproviding a node at which control of reproductionis regulated. To address these issues, thisreview focuses on several critical questions. Howis the HPG axis regulated in species with diff erentreproductive strategies? What internal andexternal conditions modulate the synthesis andrelease of GnRH? How does GnRH modulatereproductive behavior within the hypothalamus?How does disease shift the activity of theHPG axis?