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Gonadotropin-Inhibiting Hormone

Meaning

Gonadotropin-Inhibiting Hormone (GnIH) is a neuropeptide primarily synthesized in the hypothalamus that functions as a critical negative regulator of the reproductive axis by suppressing the release of gonadotropins from the anterior pituitary gland. Specifically, GnIH inhibits the secretion of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH), thereby dampening the downstream production of gonadal steroids like testosterone and estrogen. Its discovery introduced a new level of complexity to the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, revealing an intrinsic inhibitory brake on reproductive function. This hormone plays a role in seasonal reproduction in some species and is being studied for its role in human stress and energy balance.