Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA.
Semin Reprod Med. 2012 Jan;30(1):23-31. doi: 10.1055/s-0031-1299594. Epub 2012 Jan 23.
Estrogen regulation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neuronal activity plays a crucial role in homeostatic regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Estrogen also coordinates a complex series of physiological changes culminating with a surge of gonadotropin secretion that triggers ovulation of a developed follicle from the ovary. The coordinated functions of estrogen ensure that the female will elaborate appropriate reproductive behaviors ultimately designed to deliver sperm to the oocyte and to provide a receptive uterine environment for the fertilized embryo. Although the effects of estrogen on GnRH neuronal function have long been proposed to be indirect due to the presumed lack of estrogen receptors in GnRH neurons, the identification of alternative estrogen signaling pathways, including estrogen receptor (ER)β and membrane ERs such as GPR30, has put the focus back on estrogen's effect at the level of the GnRH neuron itself. One candidate to mediate the effects of estrogen is the β isoform of the estrogen receptor. We review the evidence for a role for ERβ-mediated regulation of GnRH neuronal function.
雌激素对促性腺激素释放激素（GnRH）神经元活动的调节在维持下丘脑-垂体-性腺轴的内稳态中起着至关重要的作用。雌激素还协调了一系列复杂的生理变化，最终导致促性腺激素分泌激增，从而触发卵巢中已发育卵泡的排卵。雌激素的协调功能确保了女性会精心设计适当的生殖行为，最终目的是将精子输送到卵子，并为受精卵提供一个可接受的子宫环境。尽管由于假定 GnRH 神经元中缺乏雌激素受体，雌激素对 GnRH 神经元功能的影响长期以来被认为是间接的，但替代雌激素信号通路的鉴定，包括雌激素受体（ER）β和膜 ER 如 GPR30，再次将焦点放在 GnRH 神经元本身的雌激素效应上。一种可能介导雌激素作用的候选物是雌激素受体的β异构体。我们回顾了 ERβ 介导的 GnRH 神经元功能调节作用的证据。
