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Rhys-Evans S, Howard SR. Combined gonadotropin therapy to replace mini-puberty in male infants with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2024; 1537:32-40. [PMID: 38924109 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.15177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Infants born with severe central disorders of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis leading to gonadotropin deficiency not only lack pubertal development in adolescence, but also lack infantile mini-puberty. This period of mini-puberty, where infants have gonadotropin and sex steroid concentrations up into the adult range, is vital for future reproductive capacity, particularly in boys. At present, there is no consensus on the diagnosis or management of infants with gonadotropin deficiency due to congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism or multiple pituitary hormone deficiency. Case series suggest that gonadotropin treatment in male infants with absent mini-puberty is effective in promoting both testicular descent in those with undescended testes and also facilitating increased penile size. Moreover, replacement with follicle-stimulating hormone increases the testicular Sertoli cell population, measurable as an increase in testicular volume and inhibin B, thus hypothetically increasing the capacity for spermatogenesis in adult life for these patients. However, long-term follow-up data is limited for both outcomes pertaining to fertility and nonreproductive sequelae, including neurodevelopment and psychological well-being. The use of international registries for patients with gonadotropin deficiency is a key element in the collection of high-quality, geographically widespread data to inform best-practice management from birth to adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Rhys-Evans
- Centre for Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Sasha R Howard
- Centre for Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
- Department of Paediatric Endocrinology, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK
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2
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Chachlaki K. A role for nNOS in mediating stress and female sexual behavior in mice. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3609. [PMID: 38688905 PMCID: PMC11061159 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47993-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Konstantina Chachlaki
- Laboratory of Development and Plasticity of the Neuroendocrine Brain, Lille Neuroscience and Cognition, Université de Lille, CHU Lille, Inserm, UMR-S 1172, F-59000, Lille, France.
- FHU 1,000 days for Health, School of Medicine, F-59000, Lille, France.
- University Research Institute of Child Health and Precision Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.
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3
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Chachlaki K, Le Duc K, Storme L, Prevot V. Novel insights into minipuberty and GnRH: Implications on neurodevelopment, cognition, and COVID-19 therapeutics. J Neuroendocrinol 2024:e13387. [PMID: 38565500 PMCID: PMC7616535 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
In humans, the first 1000 days of life are pivotal for brain and organism development. Shortly after birth, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons in the hypothalamus are activated, a phenomenon known as minipuberty. This phenomenon, observed in all mammals studied, influences the postnatal development of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis and reproductive function. This review will put into perspective the results of recent studies showing that the impact of minipuberty extends beyond reproductive function, influencing sensory and cognitive maturation. Studies in mice have revealed the role of nitric oxide (NO) in regulating minipuberty amplitude, with NO deficiency linked to cognitive and olfactory deficits. Additionally, findings indicate that cognitive and sensory defects in adulthood in a mouse model of Down syndrome are associated with an age-dependent decline of GnRH production, whose origin can be traced back to minipuberty, and point to the potential therapeutic role of pulsatile GnRH administration in cognitive disorders. Furthermore, this review delves into the repercussions of COVID-19 on GnRH production, emphasizing potential consequences for neurodevelopment and cognitive function in infected individuals. Notably, GnRH neurons appear susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, raising concerns about potential long-term effects on brain development and function. In conclusion, the intricate interplay between GnRH neurons, GnRH release, and the activity of various extrahypothalamic brain circuits reveals an unexpected role for these neuroendocrine neurons in the development and maintenance of sensory and cognitive functions, supplementing their established function in reproduction. Therapeutic interventions targeting the HPG axis, such as inhaled NO therapy in infancy and pulsatile GnRH administration in adults, emerge as promising approaches for addressing neurodevelopmental cognitive disorders and pathological aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantina Chachlaki
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Laboratory of Development and Plasticity of the Neuroendocrine Brain, Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, UMR_S1172, Lille, France
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Hospital-University Federation (FHU) 1000 First Days of Life, Lille, France
| | - Kevin Le Duc
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Hospital-University Federation (FHU) 1000 First Days of Life, Lille, France
- CHU Lille, Neonatology Department, Jeanne de Flandres Hospital, Lille, France
| | - Laurent Storme
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Hospital-University Federation (FHU) 1000 First Days of Life, Lille, France
- CHU Lille, Neonatology Department, Jeanne de Flandres Hospital, Lille, France
| | - Vincent Prevot
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Laboratory of Development and Plasticity of the Neuroendocrine Brain, Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, UMR_S1172, Lille, France
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Hospital-University Federation (FHU) 1000 First Days of Life, Lille, France
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Anderson GM, Hill JW, Kaiser UB, Navarro VM, Ong KK, Perry JRB, Prevot V, Tena-Sempere M, Elias CF. Metabolic control of puberty: 60 years in the footsteps of Kennedy and Mitra's seminal work. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2024; 20:111-123. [PMID: 38049643 PMCID: PMC10843588 DOI: 10.1038/s41574-023-00919-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
An individual's nutritional status has a powerful effect on sexual maturation. Puberty onset is delayed in response to chronic energy insufficiency and is advanced under energy abundance. The consequences of altered pubertal timing for human health are profound. Late puberty increases the chances of cardiometabolic, musculoskeletal and neurocognitive disorders, whereas early puberty is associated with increased risks of adult obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases and various cancers, such as breast, endometrial and prostate cancer. Kennedy and Mitra's trailblazing studies, published in 1963 and using experimental models, were the first to demonstrate that nutrition is a key factor in puberty onset. Building on this work, the field has advanced substantially in the past decade, which is largely due to the impressive development of molecular tools for experimentation and population genetics. In this Review, we discuss the latest advances in basic and translational sciences underlying the nutritional and metabolic control of pubertal development, with a focus on perspectives and future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greg M Anderson
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Jennifer W Hill
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
- Center for Diabetes and Endocrine Research, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Ursula B Kaiser
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Hypertension, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Victor M Navarro
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Hypertension, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ken K Ong
- Metabolic Research Laboratory, Wellcome-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, UK
| | - John R B Perry
- Metabolic Research Laboratory, Wellcome-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, UK
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, Wellcome-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, UK
| | - Vincent Prevot
- University of Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Laboratory of Development and Plasticity of the Neuroendocrine Brain, Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, UMR-S 1172, Lille, France
- European Genomic Institute for Diabetes (EGID), Lille, France
| | - Manuel Tena-Sempere
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Cordoba, Spain.
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain.
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Cordoba, Spain.
| | - Carol F Elias
- Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Caswell Diabetes Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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Prévot V, Tena-Sempere M, Pitteloud N. New Horizons: Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone and Cognition. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2023; 108:2747-2758. [PMID: 37261390 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgad319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Pulsatile secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is essential for activating and maintaining the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, which controls the onset of puberty and fertility. Two recent studies suggest that, in addition to controlling reproduction, the neurons in the brain that produce GnRH are also involved in the control of postnatal brain maturation, odor discrimination, and adult cognition. This review will summarize the development and establishment of the GnRH system, with particular attention to the importance of its first postnatal activation, a phenomenon known as minipuberty, for later reproductive and nonreproductive functions. In addition, we will discuss the beneficial effects of restoring physiological (ie, pulsatile) GnRH levels on olfactory and cognitive alterations in preclinical Down syndrome and Alzheimer disease models, as well as the potential risks associated with long-term continuous (ie, nonphysiological) GnRH administration in certain disorders. Finally, this review addresses the intriguing possibility that pulsatile GnRH therapy may hold therapeutic potential for the management of some neurodevelopmental cognitive disorders and pathological aging in elderly people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Prévot
- University of Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Laboratory of Development and Plasticity of the Neuroendocrine Brain, Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, UMR S1172, Lille F-59000, France
| | - Manuel Tena-Sempere
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), 14004 Córdoba, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Nelly Pitteloud
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne 1011, Switzerland
- Faculty of Biology and Medicine, Université of Lausanne, Lausanne 1005, Switzerland
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6
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Chachlaki K, Le Duc K, Storme L, Prévot V. [Minipuberty: A critical period for brain functional development]. Med Sci (Paris) 2023; 39:697-700. [PMID: 37943124 DOI: 10.1051/medsci/2023113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Konstantina Chachlaki
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, laboratoire du développement et de la plasticité du cerveau neuroendocrine, Lille Neuroscience et cognition, UMR_S1172, Lille, France - Fédérations hospitalo-universitaires (FHU) « 1 000 Premiers jours de vie », Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Kevin Le Duc
- Fédérations hospitalo-universitaires (FHU) « 1 000 Premiers jours de vie », Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU de Lille, Lille, France - Département de néonatalogie, hôpital Jeanne de Flandre, CHU de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Laurent Storme
- Fédérations hospitalo-universitaires (FHU) « 1 000 Premiers jours de vie », Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU de Lille, Lille, France - Département de néonatalogie, hôpital Jeanne de Flandre, CHU de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Vincent Prévot
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, laboratoire du développement et de la plasticité du cerveau neuroendocrine, Lille Neuroscience et cognition, UMR_S1172, Lille, France - Fédérations hospitalo-universitaires (FHU) « 1 000 Premiers jours de vie », Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU de Lille, Lille, France
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7
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Prévot V, Duittoz A. A role for GnRH in olfaction and cognition: Implications for veterinary medicine. Reprod Domest Anim 2023; 58 Suppl 2:109-124. [PMID: 37329313 DOI: 10.1111/rda.14411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Pulsatile secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is essential for the activation and maintenance of the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, which controls the onset of puberty and fertility. Two provocative recent studies suggest that, in addition to control reproduction, the neurons in the brain that produce GnRH are also involved in the control postnatal brain maturation, odour discrimination and adult cognition. Long-acting GnRH antagonists and agonists are commonly used to control fertility and behaviour in veterinary medicine, primarily in males. This review puts into perspective the potential risks of these androgen deprivation therapies and immunization on olfactory and cognitive performances and well-aging in domestic animals, including pets. We will also discuss the results reporting beneficial effects of pharmacological interventions restoring physiological GnRH levels on olfactory and cognitive alterations in preclinical models of Alzheimer's disease, which shares many pathophysiological and behavioural hallmarks with canine cognitive dysfunction. These novel findings raise the intriguing possibility that pulsatile GnRH therapy holds therapeutic potential for the management of this behavioural syndrome affecting older dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Prévot
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Laboratory of Development and Plasticity of the Neuroendocrine Brain, Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, UMR_S1172, Lille, France
| | - Anne Duittoz
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC) UMR7247 INRA, CNRS, Centre INRAE Val de Loire, IFCE, Université de Tours, Nouzilly, France
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8
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Amal H, Steinert JR. Editorial: Nitric oxide signaling from synapse to disease. Free Radic Biol Med 2023; 196:9-10. [PMID: 36626954 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2023.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Haitham Amal
- Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Joern R Steinert
- Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Nottingham, School of Life Sciences, Nottingham, NG7 2NR, UK.
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