Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2002) 4 S13

Reproductive Medicine and Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, USA.


Reproduction is controlled by hypothalamic GnRH acting on the pituitary gonadotrope to regulate LH and FSH. Activin, follistatin, and gonadal steroids modulate the gonadotrope as well. We have created immortalized pituitary gonadotropes and a series of their progenitor cells that represent sequential stages of differentiation. These have allowed the identification of transcription factors responsible for specific developmental transitions such as the initiation of LH and FSH gene expression in development. GnRH activation of the LH and FSH beta-subunit genes is restricted to the most differentiated of the gonadotrope cell lines. This cell line expresses GnRH receptor, activin, follistatin, inhibin, ER, AR, and GR, as well as FSH and LH. FSH beta induction by GnRH or androgen is dependent on the activin autocrine loop. Thus, the most differentiated gonadotrope cell line has allowed dissection of the molecular mechanisms of androgen, activin, and GnRH action and the interdependence of these key modulators of reproductive function.

Volume 4

193rd Meeting of the Society for Endocrinology and Society for Endocrinology joint Endocrinology and Diabetes Day

Society for Endocrinology 

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