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Role of GnRH in the maturation of pituitary gonadotroph function.

Since the characterization and synthesis of the hypothalamic decapeptide, gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which stimulates the release of LH and FSH from the pituitary gland, much information has been obtained that confirms the importance of this peptide in the control of reproduction. Most studies have focussed on the in-vivo effects of GnRH on gonadotroph function and reproductive processes in adult rodents, sheep, monkeys and humans. In addition to the stimulatory action of GnRH on pituitary gonadotrophs, the peptide has been shown to stimulate and inhibit steroidogenesis in the testes and ovaries of rats (Sharpe, Fraser, Cooper & Rommerts, 1982) and this suggests that it exerts, in this species at least, a paracrine modulatory function within the gonads. As yet, however, no convincing evidence for a direct gonadal action of GnRH in other species has been obtained. Indeed, the precise chemical identity of 'gonadal GnRH' remains elusive and a similarity with the hypothalamic decapeptide has not been confirmed. For this reason this review will not consider further the role of'gonadal' GnRH-like material in sexual maturation. There is relatively little information on the importance of GnRH during the differentiation and maturation of the functional activity of the gonadotrophs, although this is a continuous process which is subject to modification as gonadal feedback regulatory influences change with progressive maturation of the animal up to and through puberty. The present review concentrates upon the role of GnRH in these developmental and maturational events of pituitary gonadotroph function in rodents. More comprehensive reviews of pubertal development may be found elsewhere (Kaplan, Grumbach & Aubert, 1976; Odell & Swerdloff, 1976; Styne & Grumbach, 1978; Ojeda, Andrews, Advis & Smith-White, 1980).