Reproduction Abstracts

Brain mechanism responsible for LH surge generation shows sexual dimorphism in rodents. The dimorphism is considered to be due to the perinatal estrogen converted from testicular androgen during developing period. The present paper aimed to clarify the mechanisms mediating the estrogen-induced defeminization of LH surge-generating system. The microarray analysis is an attempt to obtain the candidate gene(s) mediating the perinatal estrogen action causing the brain sexual diffe...

Pulsatile secretion of GnRH/LH is indispensable for puberty onset and normal reproductive functions in mammalian species. A cohort of neurons expressing three neuropeptides, kisspeptin, neurokinin B (NKB), and dynorphin (KNDy neurons), localized in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC), are considered to be a source of GnRH pulse generator. A synchronous discharge of KNDy neurons might be obligatory for pulsatile GnRH secretion. The present study aimed to determine whether NK...

Kisspeptin, encoded by Kiss1 gene, has attracted attention as a key neuropeptide in controlling reproduction in mammals. Earlier studies with Kiss1 or its cognate receptor Gpr54 knockout (KO) mice showed the indispensable role of kisspeptin–GPR54 signaling on reproduction, but detailed analysis of gonadotropin release were still limited. Here we have generated Kiss1 KO rats to evaluate a role of kisspeptin on pulsatile gonadotropin secr...