Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, United States.
Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2018 Mar 5;463:116-130. doi: 10.1016/j.mce.2017.03.022. Epub 2017 Mar 22.
Mammalian reproduction is controlled by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. GnRH from the hypothalamus regulates synthesis and secretion of gonadotropins, LH and FSH, which then control steroidogenesis and gametogenesis. In females, serum LH and FSH levels exhibit rhythmic changes throughout the menstrual or estrous cycle that are correlated with pulse frequency of GnRH. Lack of gonadotropins leads to infertility or amenorrhea. Dysfunctions in the tightly controlled ratio due to levels slightly outside the normal range occur in a larger number of women and are correlated with polycystic ovaries and premature ovarian failure. Since the etiology of these disorders is largely unknown, studies in cell and mouse models may provide novel candidates for investigations in human population. Hence, understanding the mechanisms whereby GnRH regulates gonadotropin hormone levels will provide insight into the physiology and pathophysiology of the reproductive system. This review discusses recent advances in our understanding of GnRH regulation of gonadotropin synthesis.
哺乳动物的繁殖受下丘脑-垂体-性腺轴的控制。来自下丘脑的 GnRH 调节促性腺激素，LH 和 FSH 的合成和分泌，然后控制类固醇生成和配子发生。在女性中，血清 LH 和 FSH 水平在整个月经或发情周期中表现出节律性变化，与 GnRH 的脉冲频率相关。缺乏促性腺激素会导致不孕或闭经。由于水平略高于正常范围而导致的紧密控制比例的失调在更多女性中发生，并与多囊卵巢和卵巢早衰相关。由于这些疾病的病因在很大程度上尚不清楚，因此细胞和小鼠模型的研究可能为人类群体的研究提供新的候选者。因此，了解 GnRH 调节促性腺激素水平的机制将深入了解生殖系统的生理学和病理生理学。本综述讨论了我们对 GnRH 调节促性腺激素合成的理解的最新进展。
