Endocrine Abstracts

Puberty is a transition period of reproductive development from juvenile stages to adulthood and depends upon activity of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons. GnRH neurons are initially activated in utero, but remain quiescent throughout the juvenile period. Premature reactivation of GnRH neurons results in precocious puberty in mice and humans, but the mechanisms underlying developmental control of GnRH neuron activity remain unknown. The neuropeptide kisspeptin, a ...