The role of gonadotropin releasing hormone (Gn-RH) in the regulation of gonadal functions of birds. Review article

Abstract

Gonadotrop hormone secretion is regulated by the central nervous system through the hypothalamus. This neuro-hormonal regulation was first verified in birds by Follett /21/ who was able to increase the LH secretion of hypophysis in vitro by crude extract of quail hypothalamus. His results supported the indirect statements of earlier neuroendocrine studies and emphasized the importance of bird hypothalamus in the regulation of gonadal function /1, 62/. A neurohormone fundamental in the central regulation of gonadic function, luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (abbreviated earlier as LH-RH, but recently, and, thus, hereinafter as Gn-RH) has first been isolated from porcine hypothalamus in Schally's Laboratory /41/, and, following the determination of its amino-acid sequence, it has been synthesized in the same year /42/. It has been stated that this peptide, consisting of 10 amino acids (p Glu-His-Trp-Ser-Tyr-Gly-Leu-Arg-Pro-Gly-NH2), increases the LH and FSH secretion of the hypophysis both in vitro and in vivo. One year later, a decapeptide, similar in its structure to porcine Gn-RH was produced from sheep hypothalamus. Investigations of the two teams suggested that decapeptide containing arginine on place 8 was the physiological Gn-RH of mammals.