# CENTRAL REGULATION OF FERTILITY IN PRIMATES

> **NIH NIH R01** · TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIS CENTER · 1993 · $152,730

## Abstract

Environmental stress is recognized as a major cause of infertility
in men and women.  However, it is not clear how stressful stimuli
interrupt normal reproductive processes.  The recent isolation and
purification of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) has provided
a valuable new tool for investigating the relationship between
stress and infertility.  CRH is a peptide synthesized in the brain
and released into the hypophyseal portal system where it regulates
activation of the adrenal cortex by the pituitary.  Several recent
studies have provided evidence supporting the hypothesis that, in
addition to the other suppressive effects of stress on reproductive
processes, CRH may directly inhibit the release of gonadotropin-
releasing hormone (GnRH), a peptide required for pituitary
activation of the gonads.  The long-term goal of this investigation
is to define the physiological and environmental control of
reproductive processes in non-human primate species that
demonstrate reproductive patterns similar to those found in humans.
This proposal describes experiments that will provide insight into
the physiological mechanisms through which stress affects fertility
in male and female macaques.  The body responds to an environmental
stimulus with the release of a variety of chemical signal; the goal
of this line of research is to isolate the effects of CRH on
gonadotropin secretion.  The first aim is to analyze and compare
the effects of a specific stressful situation (i.e., short-term
chair restraint) on male and female ,acacias on different
reproductive states.  All of the animals used in these studies will
have indwelling catheters which will allow blood sampling and
delivery of test substances from a remote site.  The second aim of
this study is to determine if CRH can inhibit the secretion of
pituitary gonadotropins when injected into an unstressed animal.
Thirdly, an antagonist to CRH will be administered immediately
before exposing an animal to a stressful stimulus to determine if
blocking the inhibitory effects of endogenous CRH on gonadotropin
secretion will elucidate the physiologic role that CRH has in
controlling fertility.  The fourth aim is to test whether
neuroleptic drugs that are known to block the release of
gonadotropins from the pituitary do so indirectly by stimulating
the release of CRH which then blocks GnRH release.  Several
neuroleptic drugs are thought to act by inhibiting the action of
neurotransmitters on GnRH neurons.  Environmental stress is a
contributing factor in many human diseases.  The final aim, once
the specific agent that inhibits gonadotropin release during stress
has been identified, is to determine if chronic administration of
this agent will result in infertility.  A better understanding of
the mechanisms which activate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal
axis in response to stress will also clarify the effects of stress
on other physiological systems and will allow the development of
more effective strategies to...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 2197688
- **Project number:** 5R01HD018591-10
- **Recipient organization:** TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIS CENTER
- **SAM.gov UEI:** E4Z2NUYUMHF9
- **Principal Investigator:** Reid L. Norman
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1993
- **Award amount:** $152,730
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1983-08-01 → 1996-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2197688

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 2197688, CENTRAL REGULATION OF FERTILITY IN PRIMATES (5R01HD018591-10). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/2197688. Licensed CC0.

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