Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA.
Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2010 Aug;1204:113-22. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2010.05518.x.
The median eminence at the base of the hypothalamus serves as an interface between the neural and peripheral endocrine systems. It releases hypothalamic-releasing hormones into the portal capillary bed for transport to the anterior pituitary, which provides further signals to target endocrine systems. Of specific relevance to reproduction, a group of about 1000 neurons in mammals release the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) peptide from neuroterminals in the median eminence. During the life cycle, there are dramatic changes in reproductive demands, and we focus this review on how GnRH terminals in the median eminence change during reproductive senescence. We discuss morphological and functional properties of the median eminence, and how relationships among GnRH terminals and their microenvironment of nerve terminals, glial cells, and the portal capillary vasculature determine the ability of GnRH peptide to be secreted and to reach its target in the anterior pituitary gland.
下丘脑底部的正中隆起作为神经内分泌系统和外周内分泌系统之间的接口。它将下丘脑释放激素释放到门脉毛细血管床中,以便运输到垂体前叶,垂体前叶为靶内分泌系统提供进一步的信号。与生殖特别相关的是,哺乳动物中的大约 1000 个神经元从正中隆起的神经末梢释放促性腺激素释放激素 (GnRH) 肽。在生命周期中,生殖需求会发生剧烈变化,我们重点关注正中隆起中的 GnRH 末梢在生殖衰老过程中的变化。我们讨论了正中隆起的形态和功能特性,以及 GnRH 末梢与其神经末梢、胶质细胞和门脉毛细血管的微环境之间的关系如何决定 GnRH 肽分泌的能力及其到达垂体前叶靶组织的能力。