The development of neuroendocrine regulation in ontogeny

Published and author's data on hypothalamic control over the most important endocrine functions during mammalian ontogenesis were reviewed. The data presented indicates that adenohypophyseotropic protein neurohormones are synthesized and accumulated in hypothalamus long before birth. At the end of the prenatal period most of hypothalamic neurohormones reached the adenohypophysis and were involved in regulation of the tropic hormones secretion. Exceptionally, regulative properties of thyroliberin and somatostatin are only manifested in immature-born animals (rats) in early postnatal period.