Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 27, 2025

Determination of Reproductive Competence by Confirming Pubertal Onset and Performing a Fertility Assay in Mice and Rats
Published on: October 13, 2018
Normal Puberty
Kanthi Bangalore Krishna1, Selma F Witchel1
1Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, UPMC Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Abstract:
Puberty is characterized by gonadarche and adrenarche. Gonadarche represents the reactivation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis with increased gonadotropin-releasing hormone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone secretion following the quiescence during childhood. Pubarche is the development of pubic hair, axillary hair, apocrine odor reflecting the onset of pubertal adrenal maturation known as adrenarche. A detailed understanding of these pubertal processes will help clarify relationships between the timing of the onset of puberty and cardiovascular, metabolic, and reproductive outcomes in adulthood. The onset of gonadarche is influenced by neuroendocrine signals, genetic variants, metabolic factors, and environmental elements.
Related Concept Videos
Signs of Puberty
Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Latency
The latency period is not...
Menopause
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...
Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Genital
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...

