GnRH

(noun)

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone is a trophic peptide hormone responsible for the release of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) from the anterior pituitary.

Related Terms

Examples of GnRH in the following topics:

  • Hormonal Regulation of the Male Reproductive System

    • Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is mainly made in the preoptic area of the hypothalamus before traveling to the pituitary gland.

  • Hormonal Methods

    • Progesterone negative feedback decreases the frequency of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) released by the hypothalamus, which decreases the release of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and greatly decreases the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) by the anterior pituitary.

  • Puberty

    • GnRH signals from the hypothalamus induce pulsed secretion of LH (and to a lesser degree, FSH) at roughly one to two hour intervals.

  • Hormonal Regulation of the Female Reproductive Cycle

    • This increased level of estrogen stimulates production of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which increases production of LH.

  • Erythroblastosis Fetalis (Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn)

    • In the past, a woman who was Rh- and who mated with a man who was Rh+ would have difficulty bearing healthy infants who would survive.
    • However, since the 1960s and the development of RhIG, Rh- women who have received this pre-partum treatment have been able to bear healthy infants.
    • In other words, if a mother has anti-RhD (D being the major Rhesus antigen) IgG antibodies as a result of previously carrying a RhD-positive fetus, this antibody will only affect a fetus with RhD-positive blood.
    • Rhesus-negative mothers who have had a pregnancy with/are pregnant with a rhesus-positive infant are given Rh immune globulin (RhIG) at 28 weeks and 34 weeks during pregnancy, and within 72 hours after delivery to prevent sensitization to the D antigen.
    • A drawback to pre-partum administration of RhIG is that it causes a positive antibody screen when the mother is tested, which can be difficult to distinguish from natural immunonological responses that result in antibody production.

  • Blood Groups and Blood Types

    • Many people also have the rhesus D (Rh) antigen expressed by their red blood cells.
    • Those that are have Rh antigens are positive for Rh, while those that don't have it are Rh negative (ie. type O+ is type O with rhesus, type A- is type A without rhesus).
    • Rh positive individuals do not have the antibodies for the Rh factor, but can make them if exposed to Rh.
    • Besides being a consideration for blood transfusion, parents who differ based on Rh status must be cautious to ensure that maternal antibodies do not destroy their child's red blood cells during fetal development, which can cause hemolytic anemia.

  • Glomerular Diseases

    • Glomerulonephritis (GN) is a renal disease (usually of both kidneys) characterized by inflammation of the glomeruli, or small blood vessels in the kidneys.
    • Diagnosing the pattern of GN is important because different types have different outcomes and treatments.
    • Distinguish between the glomerular diseases of Glomerulonephritis (GN) and Goodpasture's syndrome