Gonadotropin Cell Transduction Mechanisms

Dear Colleagues

Gonadotropins act in concert in the regulation of the female and male reproductive systems. Through intricate endocrine communication routes, paracrine and autocrine communication along the HPG axis, they sustain the production of sex steroids by gonads. Different signaling cascades and transcriptional mechanisms are activated, depending on the variation in GnRH pulse frequency, after the synthesis and release of FSH and LH, whose biological effects are mediated directly by coupled receptors (FSHR and LHCGR) or indirectly through different mediators. The orchestrated signaling activation promotes different biological responses, such as ovarian angiogenesis, folliculogenesis, oocyte selection, fertilization and pregnancy, as well as testicular development and spermatogenesis. Moreover, gonadotropins are intertwined in a network of interactions with other hormones, which all contribute to the functioning of the reproductive system. The dysregulation of one or more of the transduction mechanisms evolves in reproductive disorders, such as infertility and cancer. Despite recent progress in understanding the mechanisms and signaling mediated by gonadotropins, their complex pathways in cells remain to be fully elucidated. The increasing new techniques applied in all fields of biotechnology and the in vitro and in vivo study of reproductive cells, as well as new sources of stem cells, could help to clarify most of the unknown signaling mediated by gonadotropins, opening up new perspectives in the comprehension of physiological and pathological events in the biology of reproduction.

Contributions to this Special Issue, of both original research articles and topical reviews, will provide new insights into the mechanisms of action of gonadotropins, deepen our understanding of their biological roles in health and disease, and reveal novel therapeutic opportunities in reproductive and regenerative medicine.

Prof. Dr. Annunziata Mauro
Prof. Dr. Barbara Barboni
Prof. Dr. Paolo Berardinelli
Guest Editors

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