Endocrine Abstracts

Nutrition is a crucial regulatory component of the reproductive physiology. Conditions of negative energy balance or low energy store often causes a disruption of the neuroendocrine reproductive axis and arrest of sexual maturation. On the other hand, excess energy, as observed in obesity, also negatively impacts the reproductive physiology. For example, high adiposity may induce or aggravate polycystic ovarian syndrome, ovulatory dysfunction and hypothalamic amenorrhea. In ob...

Besides its critical functions as a reproductive hormone, 17β-estradiol (E2), plays an important role in the control of energy homeostasis. In experimental animals, reduction of circulating estrogen levels by bilateral ovariectomy leads to the development of obesity, which can be reversed or prevented by E2 treatment. E2 effects on energy balance resemble many similarities to the actions of leptin, key molecule involved in the control of e...