Gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) measurements in pituitary portal blood: A history. (16th December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Moenter, Suzanne M.; Evans, Neil P.
• Other Names: Lehman Mike guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of neuroendocrinology. Volume 34:Number 5(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-12-16
• Subjects: luteinizing hormone -- science history -- transsphenoidal; Neuroendocrinology -- Periodicals; 616.4
• DOI: 10.1111/jne.13065
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0953-8194

Abstract

Abstract: Much about the neuroendocrine control of reproduction is inferred from changes in the episodic release of luteinizing hormone (LH), as measured in samples of peripheral blood. This, however, assumes that LH precisely mirrors gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) release from the hypothalamus. Because GnRH is not measurable in peripheral blood, characterization of the relationship between these two hormones required the simultaneous measurement of GnRH and LH in pituitary portal and peripheral blood, respectively. Here, we review the history of why and how portal blood collection was developed, the aspects of the true output of the central component of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis that this methodology helped clarify, and conditions under which the pituitary fails to serve as an adequate bioassay for the release pattern of GnRH. Abstract : The history of pituitary portal blood collection for the assessment of releasing factors is reviewed.