Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Imaging Calcium Responses in GFP-tagged Neurons of Hypothalamic Mouse Brain Slices
Published on: August 24, 2012
GnRH-induced calcium and current oscillations in gonadotrophs
1Stanko S. Stojilkovic and Melanija Tomić are at the Endocrinology and Reproduction Research Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
Abstract:
The rat pituitary gonadotroph is a well-studied cell model for investigation of the oscillatory nature of calcium signaling in agonist-stimulated excitable cells. Cytosolic calcium levels ([Ca(2+)](i)) in gonadotrophs are controlled by two distinct oscillators, a plasma membrane oscillator that generates extracellular calcium-dependent low-amplitude [Ca(2+)](i) spiking in unstimulated cells and an endoplasmic reticulum oscillator that is activated by calcium-mobilizing receptors for GnRH, endothelin, and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide. In this review, the characteristics of the spontaneous and agonist-induced calcium oscillations in gonadotrophs and the coordinate actions of the two oscillators during GnRH action discussed.
More Related Videos
09:30Dual Somatic Recordings from Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) Neurons Identified by Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) in Hypothalamic Slices
Published on: February 23, 2010
09:42Simultaneous Electrophysiological Recording and Calcium Imaging of Suprachiasmatic Nucleus Neurons
Published on: December 8, 2013
Related Concept Videos
Feedback Regulation of Calcium Concentration
Various transmembrane receptors, such as G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), elicit a response to extracellular signals by increasing cytosolic calcium. Activated GPCRs...
Calmodulin-dependent Signaling
The Ca2+-CaM complex does not have enzymatic activity by itself. Instead, the complex binds downstream target proteins, including membrane proteins or enzymes,...
Hormonal Regulation of the Menstrual Cycle
At puberty, GnRH begins a pulsatile release pattern, which triggers the anterior pituitary gland to secrete follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). The frequency and amplitude of GnRH pulses vary across the menstrual cycle, with faster pulses favoring LH release and slower pulses favoring FSH release.
Hormonal Control of the Ovarian Cycle
Before puberty, the hypothalamus releases GnRH in a low frequency, low amplitude pulsatile manner. This along with the immature hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis activity, results in low estrogen levels and the absence of a fully functional ovarian cycle. At puberty, GnRH secretion increases in both frequency and...
Hormones and Bone Tissue
Hormones That Influence Osteoblasts and/or Maintain the Matrix
Several hormones are necessary for controlling bone growth and maintaining the bone matrix. The pituitary gland secretes growth hormone (GH), which, as its name implies, controls bone growth. This happens in several ways: first, it triggers chondrocyte...
Skeleton and Calcium Homeostasis