Question 1

What is the Meaning of Neurokinin B Neurons?

Accepted Answer

Neurokinin B (NKB) neurons are a specific population of neurons located in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, forming a crucial component of the KNDy (Kisspeptin, Neurokinin B, and Dynorphin) neuronal network. These neurons are pivotal regulators of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, controlling the pulsatile release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Clinically, the activity of NKB neurons is essential for initiating and maintaining puberty, regulating the menstrual cycle, and mediating the negative feedback effects of sex steroids. Dysregulation in this system is implicated in reproductive disorders and menopausal hot flashes.

Question 2

What is the Origin of Neurokinin B Neurons?

Accepted Answer

The term refers to the neuropeptide Neurokinin B, a member of the tachykinin family, and the neurons that synthesize and release it. NKB was first identified as a neuromodulator in the central nervous system. The clinical significance of NKB neurons in reproductive function was established through neuroendocrinology research detailing the complex, interconnected signaling that controls GnRH secretion.

Question 3

What is the Mechanism of Neurokinin B Neurons?

Accepted Answer

The mechanism centers on the co-release of NKB and kisspeptin, which together provide the excitatory drive necessary for the pulsatile secretion of GnRH into the portal circulation. NKB acts locally on its receptor, NK3R, to modulate the firing pattern of the GnRH pulse generator. Sex steroids, such as estrogen, exert their negative and positive feedback effects, in part, by modulating the expression of NKB and its receptor on these hypothalamic neurons. During the hypoestrogenic state of menopause, the removal of this feedback leads to a hyperactivity of the NKB neurons, which is thought to be the central mechanism driving vasomotor symptoms like hot flashes.

Neurokinin B Neurons

Meaning

Origin

Mechanism

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