the role of arginine-phenylalanine-amide-related peptides in mammalian reproduction

until 2000 it was believed that gonadotropin-releasing hormone (gnrh) was the sole regulator of hypophyseal gonadotropes. in 2000, the discovery of a gonadotropin inhibitory hormone (gnih) initiated a revolution in the field of reproductive physiology. identification of gnih homologues in mammals, the arginine-phenylalanine- amide (rfamide)-related peptides (rfrps), indicated a similar function. subsequently, further works conducted in various laboratories worldwide have shown that these neuropeptides inhibit the hypothalamic-hypophyseal axis. this review discusses the role of rfrps in mammalian reproductive processes.