Neuroendocrine research models

The neuroendocrine system has always been a main research area for neuroscience. The distinctiveness of this system is due to its diverse anatomical and physiological properties, which modulates the homeostasis and reproductivity of the organism. For decades, generated research models have served to elucidate the complex properties of this system and provided invaluable data on the physiology and mechanism. Currently, the basic research has concentrated on the mechanisms of neuropeptide secretion, carriage and transportation with neurotransmitters and mechanisms operative during various physiological or pathological states. Comparable to the basic research, neuroendocrine models also help to investigate certain clinical aspects of neurological neurosurgical diseases. Pituitary adenomas have been induced by several methods in rats to elucidate adenoma morphology, characteristics and treatment options. More recently, experimental studies are concentrated on the effectiveness of therapeutic gene transfer in neuroendocrine disorders and tumors. Moreover, animal models are of great importance for both to investigate the role of hypothalamus in aging and the potential of correcting age-related neurodegenerative processes in this setting.