Endocrine Abstracts

During the infantile-pubertal transition, a diversity of behavioral, physiological, morphological and molecular changes are required in order to attain fertility. An essential step in this process is the reactivation of the pituitary-gonadal axis by increased hypothalamic secretion of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH). This drives the adenohypophysis to increase the pulsatile release of luteinizing hormone (LH) with diurnal periodicity, the first endocrine sign of pubertal...

Onset of puberty strongly depends on organizational processes taking place during the fetal and early postnatal life. Therefore, exposure to environmental pollutants such as Endocrine disrupting chemicals during critical periods of development can result in delayed/advanced puberty and long-term reproductive consequences. Human evidence of altered pubertal timing after exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals is equivocal. However, the age distribution of pubertal signs poin...

Whilst the timing of pubertal onset varies within and between different populations, it is a highly heritable trait. The timing of sexual maturation is highly correlated within families and in twin studies, suggesting strong genetic determinants. However, despite this strong heritability, our knowledge of the genetic control of puberty remains limited. Disturbances of puberty (precocious, delayed or arrested) encompass an important group of pathologies. Firstly, they are commo...