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Basics of Human Andrology pp 117–134Cite as

Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Testicular Axis

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Abstract

  • Structure of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)

  • Structure of GnRH receptor

  • Synthesis and regulation of GnRH receptor

  • GnRH-GnRH receptor interactions

  • GnRH pulses

  • Regulation of GnRH secretion

  • Structure of gonadotropins

  • Regulation of gonadotropin secretion

Male reproduction, development, and maintenance of male sexual characteristics are principally governed by the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular (HPT) axis. The axis is composed of the hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and the gonadal steroids. GnRH is the central regulator of the male reproductive hormonal cascade. The HPT axis maintains a dynamic equilibrium of serum levels of reproductive hormones through a closed-loop feedback mechanism. A cause leads to an effect and that may be the end of a process. The cause and effect continue to modify each other. The effect may suppress the cause for attenuation of the effect. At other times, the effect may promote the cause for a still larger effect. The former is the negative feedback from the effect to the cause, and the latter is the positive feedback from the effect to the cause. Numerous hypothalamic, pituitary, and testicular factors tightly regulate the HPT axis and ensure its proper functioning.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Reproductive Biology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India

    Bodhana Dhole PhD & Anand Kumar MD, FAMS

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  1. Bodhana Dhole PhD
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  2. Anand Kumar MD, FAMS
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Correspondence to Anand Kumar MD, FAMS .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Reproductive Biology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India

    Anand Kumar

  2. Department of Reproductive Biology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India

    Mona Sharma

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Dhole, B., Kumar, A. (2017). Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Testicular Axis. In: Kumar, A., Sharma, M. (eds) Basics of Human Andrology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-3695-8_9

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