Limonta Patrizia, Marelli Marina Montagnani, Moretti Roberta, Marzagalli Monica, Fontana Fabrizio, Maggi Roberto
Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.
Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.
Vitam Horm. 2018;107:27-66. doi: 10.1016/bs.vh.2018.01.003. Epub 2018 Feb 12.
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is recognized as the central regulator of the functions of the pituitary-gonadal axis. The increasing knowledge on the mechanisms controlling the development and the function of GnRH-producing neurons is leading to a better diagnostic and therapeutic approach for hypogonadotropic hypogonadisms and for alterations of the puberty onset. During female life span, the function of the GnRH pulse generator may be affected by a number of inputs from other neuronal systems, offering alternative strategies for diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. Moreover, the identification of a GnRH/GnRH receptor system in both human ovary and endometrium has widened the spectrum of action of the peptide outside its hypothalamic functions. The pharmacological use of GnRH itself or its synthetic analogs (agonists and antagonists) provides a valid tool to either stimulate or block gonadotropin secretion and to modulate the female fertility in several reproductive disorders and in assisted reproduction technology. The use of GnRH agonists in young female patients undergoing chemotherapy is also considered a promising therapeutic approach to counteract iatrogenic ovarian failure.
促性腺激素释放激素（GnRH）被认为是垂体-性腺轴功能的核心调节因子。对控制GnRH分泌神经元发育和功能机制的认识不断增加，为低促性腺激素性性腺功能减退症和青春期启动异常带来了更好的诊断和治疗方法。在女性生命周期中，GnRH脉冲发生器的功能可能受到其他神经元系统多种输入的影响，为诊断和治疗干预提供了替代策略。此外，在人类卵巢和子宫内膜中发现的GnRH/GnRH受体系统拓宽了该肽在其下丘脑功能之外的作用范围。GnRH本身或其合成类似物（激动剂和拮抗剂）的药理学应用为刺激或阻断促性腺激素分泌以及调节多种生殖疾病和辅助生殖技术中的女性生育能力提供了有效工具。在接受化疗的年轻女性患者中使用GnRH激动剂也被认为是对抗医源性卵巢功能衰竭的一种有前景的治疗方法。
