Grant: Project Grant

The pituitary gland sits at the base of the brain. Though it is a small organ, it produces several hormones that play essential roles in the control of growth, lactation, metabolism, responses to stress, and reproduction. Cells within the pituitary called gonadotropes make follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which regulates estrogen production and egg development in ovaries and spermatogenesis in testicles. We recently discovered that a protein called gremlin may play a previously unrecognized role in the control of FSH production in males. However, the evidence collected to date is largely circumstantial and there remain many unanswered questions. First, what are the mechanisms that enable gonadotropes in males but not females to make gremlin? Second, does gremlin regulate FSH production in vivo and do differences in its levels explain sex differences in FSH? Finally, how does gremlin stimulate FSH synthesis? In this proposal, we will systematically address each of these questions. The results will provide a fuller understanding of FSH regulation and the hormonal control of reproduction.