Timing and completion of puberty in female mice depend on estrogen receptor alpha-signaling in kisspeptin neurons.

ABSTRACT: Puberty onset is initiated by activation of neurons that secrete gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). The timing and progression of puberty may depend upon temporal coordination of two opposing central mechanisms--a restraint of GnRH secretion before puberty onset, followed by enhanced stimulation of GnRH release to complete reproductive maturation during puberty. Neuronal estrogen receptor α (ERα) has been implicated in both controls; however, the underlying neural circuits are not well understood. Here we test whether these mechanisms are mediated by neurons that express kisspeptin, a neuropeptide that modulates GnRH neurosecretion. Strikingly, conditional ablation of ERα in kisspeptin neurons results in a dramatic advancement of puberty onset in female mice. Furthermore, subsequent pu

SUBMITTER: Mayer C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3012491 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature