ESPE Yearbook of Paediatric Endocrinology

Brief summary: This literature review summarized the recent advances in our understanding of the GnRH system throughout life and its implication in the brain development beyond its conventional role in reproductive control.During embryonic development GnRH neurons migrate from the olfactory placode to the hypothalamus, where they control the hypothalamus–pituitary–gonadal axis (1,2). But many GnRH neurons migrate to other brain regions, such as...

Brief summary: Using a combination of expression studies in human embryos as well as functional studies in zebrafish and genetic sequencing of patient with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, this study identified a novel role for Jag1/Notch signaling in the development of GnRH neurons.GnRH neurons have a unique characteristic as they start life in the olfactory placode and then migrate into the hypothalamus during embryonic development, thanks to ...

To read the full abstract: American journal of human genetics vol. 106,1 (2020): 58–70. doi: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002929719304677?via%3DihubBy performing next-generation sequencing in 240 unrelated probands with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and follow-up in multiple animal models, this study identifies ...

To read the full abstract: Hum Mol Genet. 2018 Jan 15;27(2):359-372See comment on 7.11...

To read the full abstract: EMBO Mol Med. 2017 Oct;9(10):1379-1397[Comments on 7.10 and 7.11] During embryonic development, GnRH neurons originate in the olfactory placode and migrate through the nasal mesenchyme using the olfactory/vomeronasal axons as a scaffold to reach their final destination in the basal forebrain1,2. Th...

To read the full abstract: Eur J Endocrinol. 2018 Apr;178(4):377-388[Comments on 7.7 and 7.8] Familial self-limited delayed puberty is highly heritable and has a clear genetic basis as described in the review written by Sasha Howard. Recent studies suggest that the genetic basis of self-limited delayed puberty is likely to be highly heteroge...

Brief summary: This study identified a new role for GnRH in higher brain function using a rodent model of Down Syndrome. It reports for the first time an improvement of cognitive functions in patients with Down Syndrome treated with pulsatile GnRH.GnRH neurons are classically described as a population of neurons located in the hypothalamus and responsible for the activation and regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. However, the recent de...

Brief summary: This study identified nitric oxide synthase 1 (NOS1) heterozygous missense variants in 6 patients with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Altered minipuberty and puberty as well as cognitive impairment were observed in NOS1 deficient mice.Nitric oxide (NO) is produced under the control of NO synthase in hypothalamic neurons. NO plays a crucial role in regulating gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion, acting as a strong inhibitory sig...