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Gynecologic Endocrinology pp 11–22Cite as

The Neuroendocrine System

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Abstract

Neuroendocrinology is the study of the interaction between the nervous and endocrine systems. The premier site of this interaction is that of the hypothalamus and pituitary. The hypothalamus acts as a central station where neural and hormonal messages arising from internal and external stimuli are decoded and the appropriate message sent to the anterior pituitary. The Moore-Price theory, published in 1930, suggested a reciprocal influence between the gonads and the pituitary. The pituitary elaborated a gonad-stimulating hormone. In turn the gonads were thought to produce hormones that suppress the pituitary in a negative manner. This interaction was described as a seesaw, or a push-pull effect. The results of these experiments suggested that the anterior pituitary is the master gland that controls the gonads, adrenal cortex, and thyroid. This concept persisted until the late 1940s.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Science, University of Illinois, 61801, Urbana, Illinois, USA

    Janice M. Bahr

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  1. Janice M. Bahr
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    Jay J. Gold M.D., F.A.C.P (Clinical Professor of Medicine and Adjunct Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology) (Clinical Professor of Medicine and Adjunct Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology)

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA

    John B. Josimovich M.D. (Professor and Vice-Chairman) (Professor and Vice-Chairman)

  3. Department of Pathology, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA

    John B. Josimovich M.D. (Professor and Vice-Chairman) (Professor and Vice-Chairman)

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© 1987 Plenum Publishing Corporation

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Bahr, J.M. (1987). The Neuroendocrine System. In: Gold, J.J., Josimovich, J.B. (eds) Gynecologic Endocrinology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2157-6_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2157-6_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-9272-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-2157-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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