The hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, important in reproduction and sex hormone-dependent diseases, is regulated by a number of G protein-coupled receptors. The recently "deorphanized" GPR54 receptor activated by the peptide metastin is thought to be the key regulator of the axis, mainly by releasing gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus. The latter decapeptide, t...

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) remains a major complication of IVF. Triggering ovulation with human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) (as a surrogate to LH) is a major factor in the initiation of OHSS. The pathological process usually intensifies if pregnancy is achieved, as the rising endogenous HCG overstimulates the corpora lutea. Decreasing HCG trigger dose does not prevent OHSS. Gona...

Excitatory amino acids, such as glutamate, exert a profound stimulatory effect on the reproductive axis of several mammals. Although glutamate receptor agonists stimulate GnRH secretion, both in vivo and in vitro, it is unclear whether GnRH neurones respond directly to glutamatergic excitation. Immortalized GnRH neurones (GT1 cells) express glutamate receptors when grown in culture and also sho...

Over the years, many contraceptive medications have been developed for companion animals, but many secondary adverse effects have limited their use. A major advancement was achieved with the use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues, mainly GnRH agonists, which mimic the effects of native GnRH. The development of effective low-dose, slow-release implants with potent agonists such a...

PURPOSE Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists have been used with adjuvant chemotherapy to protect ovarian function. However, there are no data on the actual pregnancy rates among young breast cancer patients receiving GnRH agonists and concurrent chemotherapy in Korea. METHODS Among patients who underwent surgery from January 2002 to April 2012, premenopausal patients aged between 2...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Drug-target residence time is an important, yet often overlooked, parameter in drug discovery. Multiple studies have proposed an increased residence time to be beneficial for improved drug efficacy and/or longer duration of action. Currently, there are many drugs on the market targeting the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor for the treatment of hormone-depend...

Recent evidence suggests that neurokinin B (NKB), a member of the neurokinin (tachykinin) peptide family, plays a pivotal role in gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse generation. Three types of neurokinin receptors (NKRs), NK1R, NK2R and NK3R, are found in the brain. Although NKB preferentially binds to NK3R, other NKRs are possibly also involved in NKB action. The present study examined...

PURPOSE This study aimed to determine the oncologic efficacy of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist treatment concurrent with chemotherapy in a neoadjuvant setting. METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed on 332 cases of invasive breast cancer in patients who were <40 years old at diagnosis and received GnRH agonists concurrent with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (GnRH agonist grou...

Several protocols are actually available for in Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer. The review summarizes the main differences and the clinic characteristics of the protocols in use with GnRH agonists and GnRH antagonists by emphasizing the major outcomes and hormonal changes associated with each protocol. The majority of randomized clinical trials clearly shows that in "in Vitro" Fertiliz...