Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis II Flashcards
What is puberty?
Transition from a non-reproductive to a reproductive state
What is the clinical definition of puberty?
Breast development or increased testicular volume (up to 4ml)
What are the two endocrine events of puberty?
Adrenarche and gonadarche
What is adrenarche caused by?
The secretion of adrenal androgens
What is gonadarche caused by?
LH/FSH
What is adrenarche responsible for?
The growth of pubic hair, axillary hair and a growth in height
What is gonadarche responsible for?
Steroid synthesis (both LH and FSH), testis growth and folliculogenesis (FSH)
What is adrenarche?
A change in adrenal androgen secretion due to cellular remodelling of the adrenal gland
What increases after adrenarche?
DHEA and DHEAS
Is there a change in other adrenal steroids during adrenarche?
No
Where are the chemicals secreted from in adrenarche?
The zona reticularis of the adrenal cortex
What is pubarche associated with?
Increased sebum production, infection and abnormal keratinisation which all lead to acne
What is it called if pubarche happens before 8 or 9 years?
Precocious pubarche
What happens in gonadarche?
Reactivation of the HPG axis and hypothalamic GnRH
When is the HPG axis first activated?
16th gestational week
When is pulsatile GnRH secreted?
Gestation -> 1-2 years and then reactivated at 11 years
Why do you test for LH instead of GnRH?
It mimics the activity but is much easier to access
What is puberty stimulated by?
A maturational event in the CVS, possibly helped by the inherent maturation of GnRH neurons, environmental/genetic factors or body fat/nutrition
How does anorexia nervosa/ intense physical training lead to amenorrhoea?
Reduced response to GnRH which leads to a decrease in gonadotrophin levels
What do inactivating mutations of Kiss1R or kisspeptin lead to?
Hypogonadism, failure to enter puberty and hypergonadotrophic hypogonadism