Brain Research Institute, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Sunway campus, PJ 46150, Malaysia.
Prog Neurobiol. 2012 Aug;98(2):176-96. doi: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2012.05.011. Epub 2012 Jun 7.
Hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is a key hormone for reproductive functions in vertebrates and non-vertebrates. Although GnRH neuronal system is regulated by several factors such as steroids, neurotransmitters and neuropeptides, it is not fully understood how environmental signals control the GnRH neuronal system. RFamide peptides, members of peptides possessing an Arg-Phe-NH(2) motif at their C-terminus, have recently been characterized as major regulators of GnRH neurons. In particular, two key RFamide peptides, kisspeptin and gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH), are emerging as important regulators of the reproductive axis. Kisspeptin acts as the accelerator, directly driving GnRH neurons, whereas GnIH acts as the restraint. In addition, other RFamide peptides such as prolactin-releasing peptide (PrRP), PQRFa peptide, 26RFa/QRFP are also known to control reproduction. These RFamide peptides are regulated by environmental factors such as photoperiods, steroid hormones, metabolic signals, and stress. How environmental signals are integrated by RFamide peptides to regulate reproduction through the GnRH neurons?
下丘脑促性腺激素释放激素（GnRH）是脊椎动物和无脊椎动物生殖功能的关键激素。尽管 GnRH 神经元系统受类固醇、神经递质和神经肽等多种因素的调节，但环境信号如何控制 GnRH 神经元系统还不完全清楚。RFamide 肽是具有 C 末端 Arg-Phe-NH2 基序的肽类成员，最近被认为是 GnRH 神经元的主要调节剂。特别是两种关键的 RFamide 肽，促性腺激素释放肽（kisspeptin）和促性腺激素抑制激素（GnIH），作为生殖轴的重要调节剂而出现。 kisspeptin 作为加速器，直接驱动 GnRH 神经元，而 GnIH 作为抑制剂。此外，其他 RFamide 肽，如催乳素释放肽（PrRP）、PQRFa 肽、26RFa/QRFP，也被认为控制着生殖。这些 RFamide 肽受光周期、类固醇激素、代谢信号和应激等环境因素的调节。RFamide 肽如何通过 GnRH 神经元整合环境信号来调节生殖？
