Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2025

Determination of Reproductive Competence by Confirming Pubertal Onset and Performing a Fertility Assay in Mice and Rats
Published on: October 13, 2018
Research summary, possible mechanisms and perspectives of gut microbiota changes causing precocious puberty
Maorong Bao1, Rui Wu2, Jingwei Li1
1Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Abstract:
The increasing global incidence of precocious puberty, linked to environmental, metabolic, and genetic factors, necessitates innovative therapies beyond gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogs. Accumulating evidence implicates gut microbiota dysbiosis as a pivotal regulator of pubertal timing via interactions with hormone metabolism (e.g., estrogen reactivation via β-glucuronidase), neuroendocrine pathways (nitric oxide signaling), and immune-inflammatory responses. This review delineates taxonomic alterations in central precocious puberty (CPP) and obesity-related subtypes, including Streptococcus enrichment and Alistipes depletion, alongside functional shifts in microbial metabolite production. Mechanistic insights highlight microbiota-driven modulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, leptin/insulin dynamics, and epigenetic regulation. Emerging interventions-probiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), and dietary modifications-demonstrate efficacy in preclinical models and early clinical studies for delaying puberty onset and restoring hormonal balance. Translational efforts to validate these strategies are critical for addressing the clinical and psychosocial challenges posed by precocious puberty, positioning gut microbiota modulation as a novel therapeutic frontier in pediatric endocrinology.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Signs of Puberty
Anatomy of the Intestines
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the...
Hormonal Regulation
Nature and Nurture
Bulimia Nervosa
Background and Environment Affect Phenotype
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...

