The main objective of the present Research Topic is to provide a comprehensive and updated vision on neuroendocrinology of reproduction with a comparative and evolutionary approach.
For years, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) has been considered the main neuropeptide regulating reproduction in vertebrates. However, in the last years, different RFamide neuropeptides have emerged as major regulators of that process: kisspeptins, gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH) and its orthologues (LPXRFamide and RFRP-1/3), QRFP (also termed 26/43RFa) and PrRP. GnRH and some RFamide neuropeptide variants were also found in invertebrates and their function is still a matter of discussion.
The presence of different variants of these peptides and their receptors in a given species add complexity to these systems and the interplay among them is still not very well understood in different vertebrate classes and it is still very far to be understood in invertebrates. Also, the relationship among reproduction, photoperiodical cues and energy balance is coordinated by the interplay of these peptides acting at different levels and ways in different species.
The main objective of the present Research Topic is to provide a comprehensive and updated vision on neuroendocrinology of reproduction with a comparative and evolutionary approach.
For years, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) has been considered the main neuropeptide regulating reproduction in vertebrates. However, in the last years, different RFamide neuropeptides have emerged as major regulators of that process: kisspeptins, gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH) and its orthologues (LPXRFamide and RFRP-1/3), QRFP (also termed 26/43RFa) and PrRP. GnRH and some RFamide neuropeptide variants were also found in invertebrates and their function is still a matter of discussion.
The presence of different variants of these peptides and their receptors in a given species add complexity to these systems and the interplay among them is still not very well understood in different vertebrate classes and it is still very far to be understood in invertebrates. Also, the relationship among reproduction, photoperiodical cues and energy balance is coordinated by the interplay of these peptides acting at different levels and ways in different species.
