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HEREDITAS ›› 2012, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (8): 969-976.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1005.2012.00969

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Effects of RFRP-3 on reproductive function and energy balance in mammals

XIANG Wei1, LAI Ping1, ZHANG Bao-Yun1, WANG Ping-Qing1, CHU Ming-Xing2, FAN Qi1, LIU Chong-Xu1, TAN Ying1   

  1. 1. Bioengineering Institute of Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China 2. The Key Laboratory of Farm Animal Genetic Resources and Germplasm Innovation of Ministry of Agricultute, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
  • Received:2012-01-06 Revised:2012-02-15 Online:2012-08-20 Published:2012-08-25

Abstract: The hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis integrates internal and external cues via a balance of stimulatory and inhibitory neurochemical systems to regulate reproductive function in mammals. However, RFRP-3 is a unique inhibitor of HPG axis at the hypothalamuic level in mammals to date. A large number of previous studies have confirmed that RFamide-related peptide (RFRP-3) suppresses gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) system and luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion, thereby affecting the reproduction. However, whether the inhibition of LH secretion by RFRP-3 occurs at the pituitary level or the hypothalamus level is not clear. It is interesting that RFRP-3 is also related to signal pathway of melatonin modulating mammal seasonal reproduction, but little is known about the effects of melatonin on the RFRP-3 neuron up to now. In addition, RFRP-3 also plays an important role in the regulation of energy balance and behavior. The regulatory mechanism of RFRP-3 in HPG axis and role of RFRP-3 in modulating mammalian energy balance, as well as behavior, are systematically elaborated and the remaining unsolved problems are also discussed in this paper.

Key words: RFRP-3, reproductive function, energy balance, gonadotropins, seasonal changes