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Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Neuron Requirements for Puberty, Ovulation, and Fertility

Centre for Neuroendocrinology and Department of Physiology (A.E.H., R.P.) and Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology (J.M.M., P.R.H.), University of Otago School of Medical Sciences, Dunedin 9001, New Zealand; and Centre des Neurosciences Intégratives et Cognitives (J.-R.P.), Unit Mixté de Recherche-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique 5228, Université Bordeaux 1, 33405 Talence, France

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Allan E. Herbison, Centre for Neuroendocrinology, Department of Physiology, University of Otago School of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 913, Dunedin 9001, New Zealand. E-mail: allan.herbison{at}stonebow.otago.ac.nz.

The absolute requirement for reproduction implies that the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis, controlling fertility, is an evolutionary robust mechanism. The GnRH neurons of the hypothalamus represent the key cell type within the body dictating fertility. However, the level of functional redundancy within the GnRH neuron population is unknown. As a result of a fortuitous transgene insertion event, GNR23 mice exhibit a marked allele-dependent reduction in GnRH neuron number within their brain. Wild-type mice have approximately 600 GnRH neurons, compared with approximately 200 (34%) and approximately 70 (12%) in GNR23^+/– and GNR23^–/– mice, respectively. Using these mice, we examined the minimal GnRH neuron requirements for fertility. Male GNR23^–/– mice exhibited normal fertility. In contrast, female GNR23^–/– mice were markedly subfertile, failing to produce normal litters, have estrous cycles, or ovulate. The failure of ovulation resulted from an inability of the few existing GnRH neurons to generate the LH surge. This was not the case, however, for the first cycle at puberty that appeared normal. Together, these observations demonstrate that 12% of the GnRH neuron population is sufficient for pulsatile gonadotropin secretion and puberty onset, whereas between 12 and 34% are required for cyclical control in adult female mice. This indicates that substantial redundancy exists within the GnRH neuronal population and suggests that the great majority of GnRH neurons must be dysfunctional before fertility is affected.

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