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A model for the control of testosterone secretion.

M Cartwright, M Husain

Journal of Theoretical Biology

|November 21, 1986

Summary

This study presents a model for testosterone secretion control, explaining hormone pulsatility without a neural clock. The model details how luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) interact with testosterone levels.

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Area of Science:

Endocrinology
Computational Biology
Neuroendocrinology

Background:

Testosterone secretion is regulated by a complex feedback network involving the hypothalamus and pituitary gland.
The pulsatile nature of hormone release in this system has been observed but not fully explained.
Previous models have often invoked neural mechanisms to explain this pulsatility.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a mathematical model explaining the control of testosterone secretion.
To demonstrate how this model accounts for the pulsatile release of key hormones.
To show that the model is consistent with experimental data and does not require a neural pulse generator.

Main Methods:

Development of a three-component feedback model involving hypothalamic LHRH, pituitary LH, and testosterone.
Analysis of the model's behavior under various conditions, including simulated castration.
Comparison of model predictions with experimental findings on hormone secretion patterns.

Main Results:

The model successfully explains the pulsatility of LHRH, LH, and testosterone release.
The model accurately predicts hormonal changes following castration.
The model demonstrates that pulsatility arises intrinsically from the feedback network, not external neural signals.

Conclusions:

A feedback network model adequately explains testosterone secretion control and hormone pulsatility.
The system's pulsatile behavior is an emergent property of the hormonal feedback loop.
The concept of a "neural clock" is unnecessary to explain the observed pulsatile hormone release patterns.

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