Integrative Control of Energy Balance and Reproduction in Females

Abstract

There is a strong association between nutrition and reproduction. Chronic dietary energy deficits as well as energy surpluses can impair reproductive capacity. Metabolic status impacts reproductive function at systemic level, modulating the hypothalamic GnRH neuronal network and/or the pituitary gonadotropin secretion through several hormones and neuropeptides, and at the ovarian level, acting through the regulation of follicle growth and steroidogenesis by means of the growth hormone-IGF-insulin system and local ovarian mediators. In the past years, several hormones and neuropeptides have been emerging as important mediators between energy balance and reproduction. The present review goes over the main sites implicated in the control of energy balance linked to reproductive success and summarizes the most important metabolic and neuroendocrine signals that participate in reproductive events with special emphasis on the role of recently discovered neuroendocrine peptides. Also, a little overview about the effects of maternal nutrition, affecting offspring reproduction, has been presented.

Influence of season and nutritional status on the direct effects of leptin, orexin-A and ghrelin on luteinizing hormone and growth hormone secretion in the ovine pituitary explant model

“…A number of endogenous peptides governing the control of energy balance can be involved in the regulation of the somatotropic and gonadotropic axes [6]. The key regulatory agents include peptides with orexigenic properties such as ghrelin and orexin-A as well as peptides with anorexigenic properties (eg, leptin) that jointly "inform" the central nervous system about the current nutritional status [7][8][9].…”

Impacts of Macronutrients on Gene Expression: Recent Evidence to Understand Productive and Reproductive Performance of Livestock

“…Dietary macronutrients may act on many levels of the ovarian-hypothalamus-hypophyseal axis, which may be directly reflected in reproductive efficiency in farm animal (Leroy et al, 2008;Garcia-Garcia, 2012). In addition, acute or chronic changes in the dietary macronutrient may alter the release and synthesis hormones related to reproductive and metabolic process, follicular growth and oocyte quality.…”

Nucleotide levels regulate germline proliferation through modulating GLP-1/Notch signaling inC. elegans

“…However, evidence for a specific mechanism by which animals also regulate growth and development by sensing cellular nucleotide levels, which reflect the level of another major nutrient and metabolic status, remains elusive. Furthermore, to survive a harsh environment such as famine, animals are able to specifically adjust their reproductive programs according to the availability of food/nutrients or metabolic status (Wayne et al 2006;Angelo and Van Gilst 2009;Michaelson et al 2010;Seidel and Kimble 2011;Garcia-Garcia 2012;Korta et al 2012). Mechanisms underlying this ability, especially the ability to sense the levels of nucleotides, are largely unknown.…”