Puberty
Reading
Lecture 8: The Onset of Puberty
Hypothalamus GnRH Control Centers in the Female (Figure 6-1 in Text)
- Male Brain Development
- testosterone in the male fetus is converted to estradiol in brain and defeminizes or prevents the differentiation of the GnRH surge centers in the hypothalamus
- Female Brain Development
- alpha-fetal protein binds estradiol in the female fetus and prevents it from reaching and crossing the blood brain barrier. The surge center of the hypothalamus then develop
- Tonic and Surge type releases of GnRH affect LH, also estrogen triggers GnRH surge in female (Figure 6-2 in Text).
Puberty
- The ability to accomplish reproduction successfully
Puberty in the Female (covered in Textbook)
- Age at first estrus (heat)
- Age at first ovulation
- Age at which the female can support pregnancy
Puberty in the Male (covered in Textbook)
- Age when behavioral traits are expressed
- Age at first ejaculation
- Age when sperm first appear in the ejaculate
- Age when sperm first appear in the urine
- Age when the ejaculate contains a threshold number of sperm
Average Age of Puberty (Table 6-1 in Textbook)
Factors Influencing the Timing of Puberty
- hormonal
- genetics
- nutritional
- environment
Hormonal - Role of GnRH Pulses
- GnRH Pulses Determine Puberty
- Prepubertal period
- minimal GnRH release
- FSH and LH low
- minimal to no folliculargenesis or spermatogenesis
- Puberty
- increase in the pulse frequency and amplitude of GnRH release
- increase in FSH and LH pulses
- folliculargenesis and spermatogenesis occur
Hormonal Changes in the Female (Figure 6-3 and 6-4 in Text)
- GnRH pulse frequency and amplitude increase in the months prior to puberty until a GnRH surge occurs
- The GnRH surge is then repeated at 16 to 22 day intervals in livestock and 28 days in humans
- The frequency and amplitude of the tonic GnRH pulses is also increased and sustained with puberty
Potential Regulators of GnRH Pulses at Puberty
- Development of surge center (Figure 1)
- present at very early age but becomes more responsive as puberty approaches
- Change in the feedback sensitivity to estradiol (Figure 2)
- key to puberty in the female
- before puberty female has strong negative feedback to estradiol produced from small follicles
- At puberty, the negative feedback effects decrease and the hypothalamus changes by releasing more GnRH (both an increase in frequency and pulse amplitude). This will lead to more follicluar estrogen production and once that estrogen is high enough, then a positive feedback will lead to a GnRH surge.
- Summary diagram (Figure 3).
Silent Ovulation at Puberty (Figure 4)
- first LH surge is usually not associated with estrus or ovulation
- caused by lack of progesterone which is needed to enhance the effect of estradiol on behavior and positive feedback
Steroid Hormone Influence on GnRH Neurons
- Estrogen, Progesterone negative feedback is via steroid receptors in Kisspeptin neurons.
- Estrogen positive feedback is via steriod receptors in specific Kisspeptin neurons.
Hormonal Changes in the Male
Puberty in the Stallion (Figure
5)
- increases in GnRH pulse amplitude and frequency drive an increase in
LH and FSH
- Leydig and perhaps sertoli cells mature in response to the increase
in LH and FSH but testosterone remains low
- LH and FSH decrease (implies GnRH pulses decrease) likely due to production
of some steroids by testis
- FSH begins to increase effecting sertoli cells (lack of inhibin production
possibly)
- testosterone finally increases from leydig cells in response to LH
approx. 2 months prior to sperm release and drives spermatogenesis
- LH, FSH and testosterone then begin to increase to adult levels (also
GnRH pulse amplitude and frequency)
Effect of Genetics on Puberty (Table 6-2 in Textbook)
- Influence of breed on age of puberty
- Influence of species on age of puberty
Effect of Nutrition on Puberty
- as animal develops the energy needed for growth decreases
- there are then changes in the energy available for other processes
such as reproduction
Availability of Energy Changes with Growth
- Effect of 2-deoxyglucose on LH and GnRH Pulses (Figure 6-5 in Textbook)
- Role of metabolic signals including glucose, free fatty acids and leptin in regulation of GnRH secretion and role of glucose sensing, neuropeptide Y and fatty acid sensing neurons via impact on Kisspeptin neurons.(Figure 6-7 in textbook)
Effect of Nutrition on Puberty
- the level of nutrition effects the age of puberty (Figure 6-6 in Textbook)
Environmental and Social Conditions (Figures 6-8 and 6-9 in Textbook)
- Effect of the Number of Females Housed Together and Exposure to A Male
- Influence of Growth Rate and Bull Exposure on Age of Puberty