Brain mechanism mediating estrogen feedback controlling follicular development and ovulation

本研究旨在探讨雌激素反馈调节促性腺激素释放激素（GnRH）/促性腺激素（gonadotropin-releasing hormone，GnRH/gonadotropin）释放的两种模式（脉冲和浪涌）的脑机制。Kisspeptin神经元位于前腹侧室周核（AVPV）和下丘脑弓状核（ARC）被认为分别通过GnRH脉冲和浪涌控制卵泡发育和排卵。大鼠和小鼠体内和体外研究表明，表观遗传机制涉及雌激素的负反馈和正反馈作用，以控制位于AVPV和ARC的kisspeptin的表达。 由于kisspeptin神经元被认为是管理哺乳动物的生殖功能，目前的研究结果有望应用于提高动物生产效率的未来。

The present study aimed to investigate the brain mechanism mediating estrogen feedback to regulate two modes (pulse and surge) of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)/gonadotropin release. Kisspeptin neurons located in the anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPV) and hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC) are considered to control follicular development and ovulation via GnRH pulse and surge, respectively. In vivo and in vitro study using rats and mice revealed that epigenetic mechanism is involved in the both negative and positive feedback effects of estrogen to control expression of kisspeptin located in the AVPV and ARC. Since kisspeptin neurons are considered to govern reproductive function in mammals, the present results are expected to be applied to increase animal production efficiency in the future.