Human Reproduction Update, Vol.10, No.1 pp.67-77, 2004
© European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology 2004; all rights reserved
Neurobiological mechanisms of puberty in higher primates
Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA 1 To whom correspondence should be addressed. e-mail: plant1{at}pitt.edu
Puberty in humans is comprised of two developmental processes; namely, gonadarche and adrenarche. Of the two, gonadarche is fundamentally the most important, and this review examines the neurobiological mechanisms that first prevent, and later trigger, progression into this critically important phase of human development when the ability to first reproduce is established. The review draws extensively upon results obtained by studies of the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta), a representative higher primate which, like man, exhibits a postnatal pattern in activity of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis that is characterized by a prolonged period of relative quiescence from late infancy until the initiation of the pubertal process. The proximate cause of the prepubertal quiescence in this neuroendocrine axis is the arrest or restraint of the pulsatile mode of hypothalamic GnRH release by a neurobiological brake that holds in check release of this decapeptide, without seeming to down-regulate the transcriptional activity of the gene encoding GnRH (GnRH-I). Thus, if neurogenomes control the onset of gonadarche, they must reside upstream from that of the GnRH neuron. The genetic and physiological factors (with a particular emphasis on leptin) that time the application and duration of the prepubertal brake on GnRH release are also considered.
Key words: 
-aminobutyric acid/gonadarche/GnRH/leptin/neuropeptide Y
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  E. Gianetti and S. Seminara Kisspeptin and KISS1R: a critical pathway in the reproductive system Reproduction, September 1, 2008; 136(3): 295 - 301. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. L. Jameson Rites of passage through puberty: A complex genetic ensemble PNAS, October 30, 2007; 104(44): 17247 - 17248. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. Sun, K. Devish, W. J. Langer, P. K. Carmines, and P. H. Lane Testosterone treatment promotes tubular damage in experimental diabetes in prepubertal rats Am J Physiol Renal Physiol, June 1, 2007; 292(6): F1681 - F1690. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 B. M. Windsor-Engnell, E. Kasuya, M. Mizuno, K. L. Keen, and E. Terasawa An increase in in vivo release of LHRH and precocious puberty by posterior hypothalamic lesions in female rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, April 1, 2007; 292(4): E1000 - E1009. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 Y. Tenenbaum-Rakover, M. Commenges-Ducos, A. Iovane, C. Aumas, O. Admoni, and N. de Roux Neuroendocrine Phenotype Analysis in Five Patients with Isolated Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism due to a L102P Inactivating Mutation of GPR54 J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., March 1, 2007; 92(3): 1137 - 1144. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. O. Sanders Maturity Indicators in Spinal Deformity J. Bone Joint Surg. Am., February 1, 2007; 89(suppl_1): 14 - 20. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. M. Castellano, V. M. Navarro, R. Fernandez-Fernandez, J. Roa, E. Vigo, R. Pineda, R. A. Steiner, E. Aguilar, L. Pinilla, and M. Tena-Sempere Effects of galanin-like peptide on luteinizing hormone secretion in the rat: sexually dimorphic responses and enhanced sensitivity at male puberty Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, December 1, 2006; 291(6): E1281 - E1289. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 B. M. Nathan, C. A. Hodges, P. J. Supelak, L. C. Burrage, J. H. Nadeau, and M. R. Palmert A Quantitative Trait Locus on Chromosome 6 Regulates the Onset of Puberty in Mice Endocrinology, November 1, 2006; 147(11): 5132 - 5138. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Rothenbuhler, D. Fradin, S. Heath, H. Lefevre, C. Bouvattier, M. Lathrop, and P. Bougneres Weight-Adjusted Genome Scan Analysis for Mapping Quantitative Trait Loci for Menarchal Age J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., September 1, 2006; 91(9): 3534 - 3537. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 E. S. Bisenius, D.N. R. Veeramachaneni, G. E. Sammonds, and S. Tobet Sex Differences and the Development of the Rabbit Brain: Effects of Vinclozolin Biol Reprod, September 1, 2006; 75(3): 469 - 476. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. Ibanez, K. Ong, C. Valls, M. V. Marcos, D. B. Dunger, and F. de Zegher Metformin Treatment to Prevent Early Puberty in Girls with Precocious Pubarche J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., August 1, 2006; 91(8): 2888 - 2891. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. Ibanez, C. Valls, K. Ong, D. B. Dunger, and F. de Zegher Metformin Therapy during Puberty Delays Menarche, Prolongs Pubertal Growth, and Augments Adult Height: A Randomized Study in Low-Birth-Weight Girls with Early-Normal Onset of Puberty J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 2006; 91(6): 2068 - 2073. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
V. N. Brito, B. B. Mendonca, L. M. F. F. Guilhoto, K. C. M. Freitas, I. J. P. Arnhold, and A. C. Latronico Allelic Variants of the {gamma}-Aminobutyric Acid-A Receptor {alpha}1-Subunit Gene (GABRA1) Are Not Associated with Idiopathic Gonadotropin-Dependent Precocious Puberty in Girls with and without Electroencephalographic Abnormalities J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 2006; 91(6): 2432 - 2436. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 T. Tang, J. Glanville, C. J. Hayden, D. White, J. H. Barth, and A. H. Balen Combined lifestyle modification and metformin in obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind multicentre study Hum. Reprod., January 1, 2006; 21(1): 80 - 89. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S.-K. Han, M. L. Gottsch, K. J. Lee, S. M. Popa, J. T. Smith, S. K. Jakawich, D. K. Clifton, R. A. Steiner, and A. E. Herbison Activation of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Neurons by Kisspeptin as a Neuroendocrine Switch for the Onset of Puberty J. Neurosci., December 7, 2005; 25(49): 11349 - 11356. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. M. Castellano, V. M. Navarro, R. Fernandez-Fernandez, R. Nogueiras, S. Tovar, J. Roa, M. J. Vazquez, E. Vigo, F. F. Casanueva, E. Aguilar, et al. Changes in Hypothalamic KiSS-1 System and Restoration of Pubertal Activation of the Reproductive Axis by Kisspeptin in Undernutrition Endocrinology, September 1, 2005; 146(9): 3917 - 3925. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
F. J P Ebling The neuroendocrine timing of puberty Reproduction, June 1, 2005; 129(6): 675 - 683. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
I. L. Sedlmeyer, C. L. Pearce, J. A. Trueman, J. L. Butler, T. Bersaglieri, A. P. Read, P. E. Clayton, L. N. Kolonel, B. E. Henderson, J. N. Hirschhorn, et al. Determination of Sequence Variation and Haplotype Structure for the Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) and GnRH Receptor Genes: Investigation of Role in Pubertal Timing J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2005; 90(2): 1091 - 1099. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. D. Krewson, P. J. Supelak, A. E. Hill, J. B. Singer, E. S. Lander, J. H. Nadeau, and M. R. Palmert Chromosomes 6 and 13 Harbor Genes that Regulate Pubertal Timing in Mouse Chromosome Substitution Strains Endocrinology, October 1, 2004; 145(10): 4447 - 4451. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. K. Welt, J. L. Chan, J. Bullen, R. Murphy, P. Smith, A. M. DePaoli, A. Karalis, and C. S. Mantzoros Recombinant Human Leptin in Women with Hypothalamic Amenorrhea N. Engl. J. Med., September 2, 2004; 351(10): 987 - 997. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|