Cited by 250Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormonesReproductive Biology and FertilityRegulation of Appetite and Obesity

The neuroendocrine timing of puberty

Ebling, Francis J P·2005·Reproduction

Abstract

Puberty is the attainment of fertility, a process encompassing morphological, physiological and behavioural development. The increased hypothalamic secretion of the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone decapeptide (GnRH) is essential for the activation of the pituitary–gonadal axis at puberty. The GnRH secretory network initially develops and is temporarily active during species-specific periods of fetal/neonatal development, so puberty is the secondary reactivation of an existing system. From a neurobiological perspective, the timing of puberty is therefore a function of changes in the neural systems controlling GnRH release. The large variability between individuals in the onset and progression of puberty indicates that the timing of puberty is not simply a function of chronological age. Rather, the neurotransmitter and neuromodulatory systems that impact upon the GnRH secretory network convey information about metabolic fuels, energy stores and somatic development and, for many species, information about season and social environment. The clear links demonstrated between metabolic fuel availability and reproductive function in many animal models provides evidence that the earlier onset of pubertal development observed in girls in certain US study populations is likely to relate to the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity in adolescents.

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Crossref · 10.1530/rep.1.00367

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  • Gonadarche begins at about 9-10 years in girls and soon after in boys, involving a change to pulsatile GnRH secretion that increases LH and FSH, leading to gonadal maturation and secondary sexual characteristics.

    “Gonadarche begins at approximately 9 or 10 years of age in girls and soon thereafter in boys; it involves a change from low-level, irregular secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) to a pattern of distinct pulses. At gonadarche, the GnRH surge markedly increases pulsatile secretion of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone, leading to a cascade of events, including gonadal”

    From The Adaptive Calibration Model of stress responsivity (2011) · cites this paper as Ebling, 2005

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Authors
Ebling, F. J. P.
Affiliations
University of Nottingham (GB)
Corresponding author
Ebling, Francis J P
Venue
Reproduction
Published
2005-06-01
Volume
129
Issue
6
Pages
675-683
ISSN
  • 1470-1626 (ISSN-L)
  • 1741-7899
OpenAlex
W2124536538
Cited by
250
References
90
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 21 · 2012: 14
FWCI
2.23
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Reproduction (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • AstraZeneca
  • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBS/B/10765)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Reproductive Biology and Fertility
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
Keywords
puberty onset, timing of puberty, gonadotropin-releasing hormone, hypothalamus, pituitary-gonadal axis, neuroendocrine regulation, energy metabolism, seasonal cues, social environment, adolescent obesity, adolescent overweight
MeSH terms
Receptors, Kisspeptin-1, Adolescent, Animals, Brain, Female, Fertility, Humans, Hypothalamus, Infant, Newborn, Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone, Male, Neurons, Puberty, Signal Transduction, Receptors, Neuropeptide, Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental, Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled

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