Defining the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone neuronal network: Transgenic approaches to understanding neurocircuitry
Defining the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone neuronal network: Transgenic approaches to understanding neurocircuitry
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DOI：
10.1111/j.1365-2826.2007.01561.x
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发表时间：
2007-07-01
影响因子：
3.2
通讯作者：
Campbell, R. E.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Campbell, R. E.
促性腺激素释放激素（GnRH）神经元是所有哺乳动物物种中驱动生殖功能和生育力的中枢调节的最后下游效应神经元。虽然很明显，成功的生育依赖于各种信号的沟通，内部和外部的线索，以GnRH神经元群体，这是如何实现的仍然知之甚少。一系列的技术限制已经造成了重大的障碍，以任何确定性的定义，调节GnRH神经元的突触神经元网络的复杂性。然而，转基因技术的最新进展为重新考虑旨在理解这一关键网络的问题开辟了新的途径。本文介绍了一些最新的进展，使用转基因小鼠模型作为工具，以了解神经元回路的基础上的调节GnRH神经元。通过将标准形态学和病毒道追踪技术与创新的转基因工具相结合，最近的研究发现了以前未被认识的GnRH神经元的特性，包括广泛的树突长度，众多的染色体和树突棘和青春期发育的可塑性，沿着开始定义构成GnRH神经元网络的初级和高级传入。
The gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurones are the final downstream effector neurones driving the central regulation of reproductive function and fertility in all mammalian species. Although it is abundantly clear that successful fertility relies upon the communication of a variety signals regarding internal and external cues to the GnRH neuronal population, how this is achieved remains poorly understood. A range of technical limitations has posed significant hurdles to defining, with any certainty, the complexities of the synaptic neuronal network regulating GnRH neurones. However, recent advances in transgenic technology have opened up new avenues to reconsider questions aimed at understanding this critical network. This article addresses some of the latest advances that use transgenic mouse models as tools to understand the neuronal circuitry underpinning the regulation of the GnRH neurones. By incorporating standard morphological and viral tract tracing techniques with innovative transgenic tools, recent studies have uncovered previously unappreciated qualities of the GnRH neurone, including extensive dendritic lengths, numerous somal and dendritic spines and plasticity over pubertal development, along with beginning to define the primary and higher-order afferents that make up the GnRH neuronal network.