生殖内分泌的演化

一切生殖活动都是在内分泌激素的严密调节下进行的。这个调节系统极为复杂,它不仅涉及多科不同类型的激素,而且还涉及激素之间的动态平衡。哺乳动物的生殖内分泌体系和其调控机制已发展到接近高度完善的水平。当前人类面临着一个人口迅速增长的危机,如何对人类自己的生育力加以控制已成为人们共同关心的大事,然而如何才能妥善地解决这一重大问题,对生物医学科学工作者来说,则是一个极大的挑战。毫无疑问,生育力的科学控制,必然要求对生殖活动的内在规律有系统和深入的了解,然后才有可能提

EVOLUTION OF REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINE

The paper presented here is a brief review of the current studies on the evolutionary aspects of reproduction in chordates (Amphioxus) as well as in the lower forms of vertebrates (cyclestomes). The author and his collaborators have recently provided evidences showing the presence of sex steroids in hoth male and female gonads of Amphioxus. At the same time, it was found that the mammalian gonadotropins, hCG and LH-RH, were highly effective in the enhancement of the gonadal synthesis of sex steroids (progesterone, testosterone, estradiol and estrone). These experimental results suggest that some kind of gonadotropic substance or substances is likely to be present in such primitive animals as Amphioxus. Using the immuno-cytoehemical and the receptor assay methods, we have not only succeeded to show the LH immune-positive reaction in the tissue of Hatschek's pit, a structure that has long been speculated to be homologous with the pituitary gland of vertebrates, but also demonstrated the existence of LH/hCG receptor in the gonads of Amphioxus. The significance of these findings in connection with the phylogenetic development of the reproductive endocrine system has been discussed.