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Horm Metab Res 2012; 44(08): 587-591
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1306301
Review
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Hormonal Regulation of Female Reproduction

A. Christensen
1   Department of Neurobiology, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
2   Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology of the Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
,
G. E. Bentley
3   Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, USA
4   Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, USA
,
R. Cabrera
5   Instituto de Investigaciones Biodmédicas-IMBECU-CONICET, Universidad de Mendoza, Argentina
,
H. H. Ortega
6   Morphological Sciences Department, Universidad Nacional de Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
7   Argentine National Research Council, Buenos Aires, Argentina
,
N. Perfito
3   Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, USA
4   Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, USA
,
T. J. Wu
8   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA
,
P. Micevych
1   Department of Neurobiology, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
2   Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology of the Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 09 December 2011

accepted 13 February 2012

Publication Date:
21 March 2012 (online)

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Abstract

Reproduction is an event that requires the coordination of peripheral organs with the nervous system to ensure that the internal and external environments are optimal for successful procreation of the species. This is accomplished by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis that coordinates reproductive behavior with ovulation. The primary signal from the central nervous system is gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which modulates the activity of anterior pituitary gonadotropes regulating follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) release. As ovarian follicles develop they release estradiol, which negatively regulates further release of GnRH and FSH. As estradiol concentrations peak they trigger the surge release of GnRH, which leads to LH release inducing ovulation. Release of GnRH within the central nervous system helps modulate reproductive behaviors providing a node at which control of reproduction is regulated. To address these issues, this review focuses on several critical questions. How is the HPG axis regulated in species with different reproductive strategies? What internal and external conditions modulate the synthesis and release of GnRH? How does GnRH modulate reproductive behavior within the hypothalamus? How does disease shift the activity of the HPG axis?

Key words

HPG axis - GnRH - estradiol - LH surge