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Control of Puberty in Humans

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When Puberty is Precocious

Part of the book series: Contemporary Endocrinology ((COE))

Abstract

Puberty is a developmental milestone that involves the disinhibition or reaugmentation of the hypothalamic GnRH pulse generator and gonadotropin secretion. The hypothalamic GnRH pulse generator pituitary system in the human function during fetal life and early infancy is suppressed to a low level of activity during childhood (the juvenile pause) and is derepressed or reactivated during puberty. In this light, puberty does not represent the initiation or first occurrence of pulsatile secretion of GnRH or pituitary gonadotropins but the reactivation or disinhibition of GnRH neurosecretory neurons in the medial basal hypothalamus and the endogenous, apparently self sustaining, oscillatory secretion of GnRH after the period of quiescent activity during childhood. An increase in the pulsatile release of GnRH heralds the onset of puberty in the primate as well as other mammals The CNS, and not the hypothalamic GnRH pulse generator, pituitary gland, gonads, or gonadal steroid target tissues, restrains activation of the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal system during the prepubertal years according to a large body of evidence. This inhibitory effect of the CNS appears to be mediated through the hypothalamus on the neurosecretory neurons that synthesize and secrete GnRH in a pulsatile manner.

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Authors
  1. Dennis M. Styne MD
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  2. Melvin M. Grumbach MD
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Pediatrics and Cellular and Integrative Physiology, Riley Hospital for Children, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN

    Ora H. Pescovitz MD

  2. Section of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology, Department of Pediatrics, Riley Hospital for Children, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Emily C. Walvoord MD

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Styne, D.M., Grumbach, M.M. (2007). Control of Puberty in Humans. In: Pescovitz, O.H., Walvoord, E.C. (eds) When Puberty is Precocious. Contemporary Endocrinology. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-499-5_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-499-5_3

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-742-6

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