Gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor: gene structure, expression and regulation.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) plays a major role in the endocrine control of reproduction. GnRH, released from the hypothalamus, acts upon the pituitary to stimulate LH and FSH secretion. In addition, GnRH also functions as a local regulator in a number of tissues and cell lines. GnRH interacts with a membrane receptor which belongs to the G-protein-coupled receptor family. The GnRH-R is encoded by a single-copy gene consisting of three exons and two introns. Consistent with the sites of its action, GnRH-R mRNA has been found in the brain, pituitary, gonads, placenta, as well as a number of carcinoma tissues and cells. GnRH-R mRNA level in the pituitary and gonads is controlled by a number of physiological regulators, such as GnRH, gonadotropin, estradiol and progesterone.