HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 294/5/E827    most recent 00670.2007v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (2) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hill, J. W. Articles by Elias, C. F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hill, J. W. Articles by Elias, C. F.

REVIEWS

Hypothalamic pathways linking energy balance and reproduction

¹Division of Hypothalamic Research, Departments of Internal Medicine and Pharmacology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas; and ²Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

Submitted 19 October 2007 ; accepted in final form 13 February 2008

ABSTRACT

During periods of metabolic stress, animals must channel energy toward survival and away from processes such as reproduction. The reproductive axis, therefore, has the capacity to respond to changing levels of metabolic cues. The cellular and molecular mechanisms that link energy balance and reproduction, as well as the brain sites mediating this function, are still not well understood. This review focuses on the best characterized of the adiposity signals: leptin and insulin. We examine their reproductive role acting on the classic metabolic pathways of the arcuate nucleus, NPY/AgRP and POMC/CART neurons, and the newly identified kisspeptin network. In addition, other hypothalamic nuclei that may play a role in linking metabolic state and reproductive function are discussed. The nature of the interplay between these elements of the metabolic and reproductive systems presents a fascinating puzzle, whose pieces are just beginning to fall into place.

gonadotropin-releasing hormone; leptin; insulin; kisspeptin

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. Donato Jr, R. J. Silva, L. V. Sita, S. Lee, C. Lee, S. Lacchini, J. C. Bittencourt, C. R. Franci, N. S. Canteras, and C. F. Elias The Ventral Premammillary Nucleus Links Fasting-Induced Changes in Leptin Levels and Coordinated Luteinizing Hormone Secretion J. Neurosci., April 22, 2009; 29(16): 5240 - 5250. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. E Buyken, N. Karaolis-Danckert, and T. Remer Association of prepubertal body composition in healthy girls and boys with the timing of early and late pubertal markers Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, January 1, 2009; 89(1): 221 - 230. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. M. McGowan, S. A. Stanley, J. Donovan, E. L. Thompson, M. Patterson, N. M. Semjonous, J. V. Gardiner, K. G. Murphy, M. A. Ghatei, and S. R. Bloom Relaxin-3 stimulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, August 1, 2008; 295(2): E278 - E286. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]