# PUBERTY ONSET--BEHAVIOR, NEURAL & HORMONAL INTERACTIONS

> **NIH NIH R01** · MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY · 1994 · $108,861

## Abstract

The long-term goal of this research is to understand neural control of
reproductive maturation in males by investigating the interactions
between gonadal steroid hormones, steroid-sensitive neural circuits, and
peptidergic neuronal systems that initiate the frequent secretion of
luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) at the time of puberty.  The
importance of frequent pulsatile release of LHRH to the onset of gonadal
maturation in male humans is well-appreciated.  Delayed puberty caused
by deficient hypothalamic secretion of LHRH can be treated with pulsatile
infusion of LHRH.  However, the etiology of this hypothalamic malfunction
is not understood.

The initiation of frequent release of LHRH at puberty is due in part to
a decrease in hypothalamic responsiveness to negative feedback effects
of testosterone.  Conversely, the pubertal activation of male sexual
behavior results in part from an increase in central nervous system
responsiveness to behavioral effects of testosterone.  Concurrent with
these alterations in steroid hormone action within the nervous system are
neuroanatomical changes in LHRH-producing neurons and in endogenous
opiate-producing neurons.

The specific aims of this project are to 1) identify both the mechanisms
that contribute to and the functional significance of previously
documented changes within the LHRH and beta-endorphin neuronal systems
that occur during activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis
at the time of puberty; 2) investigate heterogeneity of function among
LHRH neurons in order to differentiate LHRH neurons that regulate
gonadotropin secretion from those that perform functions within the
central nervous system within the context of puberty; and, 3) investigate
region-specific regulation of steroid receptors by steroid hormones as
a possible cellular mechanism for the pubertal shifts in responsiveness
to testosterone. These specific aims will be accomplished by a
multidisciplinary approach that includes the use of immunocytochemical
identification of peptidergic and steroid receptive neurons, in situ
hybridization histochemistry for LHRH messenger RNA, neuronal tract
tracing, and in vivo pharmacological manipulations.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 2199970
- **Project number:** 5R01HD026483-05
- **Recipient organization:** MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** R28EKN92ZTZ9
- **Principal Investigator:** CHERYL L. SISK
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1994
- **Award amount:** $108,861
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1989-12-01 → 1997-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2199970

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 2199970, PUBERTY ONSET--BEHAVIOR, NEURAL & HORMONAL INTERACTIONS (5R01HD026483-05). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/2199970. Licensed CC0.

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