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Control of the rhesus monkey menstrual cycle: permissive role of hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone

G Marshall, T M Plant, L Wildt, P E Belchetz, E Knobil

  • Department of Physiology, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261
  • University of Pittsburgh ROR
  • Universitäts Frauenklinik ROR
  • Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences ROR

Science (New York, N.Y.), 207(4437), 1371-1373

DOI 10.1126/science.6766566 PMID 6766566

Abstract

In rhesus monkeys with hypothalamic lesions (which appear to abolish the endogenous production of gonadotropin-releasing hormone), normal ovulatory mestrual cycles were reestablished by an unvarying, long-term replacement regimen consisting of one intravenous pulse of synthetic gonadotropic-releasing hormone per hour. This finding is in accord with the hypothesis that the pattern of pituitary gonadotropin secretion throughout the menstrual cycle (basal secretion interrupted, once every 28 days on the average, by a preovulatory surge) is not directed by alterations in hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone secretion but by the ebb and flow of ovarian estrogens acting directly on the pituitary gland.

Topics

Reproductive Endocrinology > GnRH Physiology > Pulsatile SecretionMenstrual Cycle > Neuroendocrine Regulation > Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Ovarian AxisResearch Methodology > Animal Models > Primate Reproductive Physiology
Knobil GnRH pulsatile rhesus monkey menstrual cycle, hypothalamic lesions GnRH replacement ovulatory cycles, permissive role GnRH pituitary gonadotropin secretion, ovarian estrogen feedback pituitary LH surge, GnRH pulse frequency menstrual cycle regulation, preovulatory gonadotropin surge estrogen positive feedback, hypothalamic gonadotropin releasing hormone constant pulse ovulation, rhesus monkey model menstrual cycle neuroendocrinology, pituitary direct estrogen action gonadotropin surge mechanism, Knobil Plant GnRH pulse hypothesis
PMID 6766566 6766566 DOI 10.1126/science.6766566 10.1126/science.6766566

Cite this article

Knobil, E., Plant, T. M., Wildt, L., Belchetz, P. E., & Marshall, G. (1980). Control of the rhesus monkey menstrual cycle: permissive role of hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone. *Science (New York, N.Y.)*, *207*(4437), 1371-1373. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.6766566

Keywords

Animals, Castration, Estradiol/pharmacology, Female, Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone/physiology, Haplorhini, Hypothalamus/physiology, Macaca/physiology, Macaca Mulatta/physiology, Menstruation/drug Effects, Pituitary Gland/physiology, Species Specificity, Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone, Estradiol

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