Human reproduction is controlled by the hypothalaic-pituitary gonadal axis laid down early in fetal development. Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), also known as GnRH-associated peptide, luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH), luliberin or gonadorelin, is a decapeptide that is an important molecule in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis control circuit. GnRH is produced by hypothalamic neurons and secreted in a pulsatile manner into the capillary plexus of the medianeminence. GnRH affects the release of lutenizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone from gonadotropic cells in the anterior pituitary. In addition to hypothalamic GnRH (GnRH I), a second GnRH form (GnRH II) functions primarily in the midbrain. GnRH is expressed in the acrosomal region of human sperm and in the anterior pituitary tissue and cancer cells. Unlike GnRH I, GnRH II is highly expressed outside the brain, particularly in the kidney, bone marrow and prostate, suggesting that it may have multiple functions. GnRH binds to a specific G protein-coupled receptor in the pituitary to regulate synthesis and secretion of gonadotropins.
Function:
Stimulates the secretion of gonadotropins; it stimulates the secretion of both luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones.
Subcellular Location:
Secreted.
Tissue Specificity:
Midbrain; expressed at significantly higher levels outside the brain (up to 30-fold), particularly in the kidney, bone marrow and prostate.
Similarity:
Belongs to the GnRH family.
SWISS:
O43555
Gene ID:
2797
Database links:
Entrez Gene: 2797 Human
Omim: 602352 Human
SwissProt: O43555 Human
Unigene: 129715 Human
|
|
