Do PACAP-containing neurons in the hypothalamus regulate reproductive hormone secretion?

该项目研究了一种名为PACAP的大脑化学物质的作用，这种化学物质存在于大脑的一个叫做下丘脑的部位，调节生殖系统。下丘脑通过控制几种垂体激素，LH和催乳素的分泌来实现这一点，这些激素反过来又刺激卵巢或睾丸的正常功能。这些激素的异常分泌见于神经性厌食症、贪食症、压力、危重病、衰老和许多其他情况，结果患者血液中类固醇水平低，性腺不活跃，这些变化本身导致其他健康问题。由于这些激素对正常生殖至关重要，因此PACAP可能在正常条件下和疾病中调节这一过程中发挥重要作用。希望这项研究将导致更详细地了解人类内分泌系统是如何控制的，并在正常和疾病条件下操纵生殖轴的新方法。

This project investigates the role of a brain chemical called PACAP which is found in a part of the brain called the hypothalamus which regulates the reproductive system. The hypothalamus does this by controlling the secretion of several pituitary gland hormones, LH and prolactin, which in turn stimulate normal function of the ovaries or testes. Abnormal secretion of these hormones is seen in conditions such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia, stress, critical illness, aging and many others with the result that patients have low levels of steroids in their blood and inactive gonads, changes which in themselves lead to other health problems. Because these hormones are essential for normal reproduction, it is possible that PACAP may play an important role in regulating this process, both under normal conditions and in disease. It is hoped that this research will lead to a more detailed understanding of how the endocrine system is controlled in humans and to new methods for the manipulation of the reproductive axis, under normal and disease conditions.