Endocrine Abstracts

NR5A1, a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, is a key transcriptional regulator of genes involved in the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal steroidogenic axis. Newborn mice deficient in NR5A1 lack both gonads and adrenal glands and have impaired expression of pituitary gonadotrophins. NR5A1 is expressed in foetal and adult Sertoli and Leydig cells of testis. NR5A1 is also expressed in multiple cell types in the foetal, postnatal, prepu...

In humans and other mammalian species, the pool of resting primordial follicles serves as the source of developing follicles and fertilizable ova for the entire length of female reproductive life. In recent years, molecular mechanisms underlying follicular activation have become more evident, mainly through the use of genetically-modified mouse models. As hypothesized in the 1990s, the pool of primordial follicles is now known to be maintained in a dormant state by various for...

In addition to markers such as FSH and inhibin A or B, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) has recently received much attention as a marker of ovarian function. It has become clear that AMH is secreted by the postnatal ovary and is specifically produced by the granulosa cells in growing follicles from the primary to the small antral stage (in mice) or the larger antral follicle stage (in women) that have not undergone cyclic recruitment by FSH.Since AMH is...

The pathogenesis of premature ovarian failure (POF) is largely unknown. However, the evidence of a frequent familiarity for the anticipation of menopause among POF women supports the concept of a strong genetic component at the origin of POF. This is further supported by the findings of several candidate genes and by data coming from natural and experimental animal models. On these bases, several groups are involved in the search for markers able to predict the risk of POF. Th...