NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY OF PUBERTY

这项研究的总体目标是确定神经内分泌 控制性成熟的机制。家养的绵羊将被用作 动物模型。拟议的研究将扩展我们的工作假设 通过增加黄体生成素的频率来控制青春期的时间 脉搏。将进行研究，以解决以下基本问题 类固醇负反馈对黄体生成素分泌的调节 通过内源性阿片类药物和褪黑素进行类固醇非依赖性控制。 人工光治疗将被广泛使用来探测 发展神经内分泌系统以确定儿童的个体发育 内源性褪黑素节律及其与促黄体生成素控制系统的联系 分泌物。用遥测系统测量其他昼夜节律 在出生后早期将有助于理解为什么 新生羔羊的松果腺不会产生褪黑素的模式 这与盛行的光周期一致。对光的要求 青春期将被研究；由于失神经而变得不具光周期的羔羊 松果体，将暴露在短暂的持续(5周) 褪黑素治疗，以检验一个光周期具有 引发一系列导致青春期的事件，青春期可能发生在 没有任何盛行的灯光信号。此外，研究将是 这与成年季节性繁殖者 经历一年一次的青春期，每年一次的节奏 繁殖是与生俱来的，而不是通过经验建立起来的。一个 将进行调查，以确定该机构的运作是否 调节类固醇反馈敏感性的系统可以与之分开 控制激素非依赖性调节促黄体生成素的分泌。这个 内源性阿片类药物参与黄体生成素脉冲频率的调节 将在光周期诱导的变化的背景下进行研究 对雌二醇反馈抑制的敏感性。本研究具有广阔的应用前景。 应用于理解动物青春期是如何计时的， 最终将有助于更好地理解 儿童青春期正常和延迟。

The overall objective of the research is to determine neuroendocrine mechanisms governing sexual maturation. The domestic sheep will be used as the animal model. The proposed research will extend our working hypothesis on control of the timing of puberty through an increase in frequency of LH pulses. Studies will be conducted to address fundamental issues in regulation of LH secretion by steroid negative feedback, by steroid-independent control, by endogenous opioids and by melatonin. Artificial light treatments will be used extensively to probe the developing neuroendocrine system in order to ascertain the ontogeny of the endogenous melatonin rhythm and its link to the system controlling LH secretion. Measurement of other circadian rhythms by a telemetric system during the early postnatal period will facilitate understanding why the pineal gland of the neonatal lamb does not produce a pattern of melatonin that accords with the prevailing photoperiod. The light requirements for puberty will be studied; lambs, rendered nonphotoperiodic by denervation of the pineal gland, will be exposed to a brief duration (5 weeks) of molatonin treatment to test the hypothesis that one photoperiod has initiated a sequence of events that lead to puberty, puberty can occur in the absence of any prevailing light signals. Moreover, studies will be conducted that bear upon the concepts that an adult seasonal breeder undergoes an "annual puberty" and that the circannual rhythm of reproduction is innate, rather than established through experience. An investigation will be carried out to determine if the functioning of the system regulating steroid-feedback sensitivity can be separated from that controlling steroid-independent modulation of LH secretion. The involvement of endogenous opioids in the regulation of LH pulse frequency will be examined in the context of photoperiod-induced changes in sensitivity to estradiol feedback inhibition. The research has broad application to the understanding of how puberty is timed in animals, knowledge that will ultimately contribute to greater understanding of normal and delayed puberty in children.