Biomaterial Database

Endocrinology of the ageing female; the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis. 2011

I D Harris, and N Santoro

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, USA. isiah.harris@ucdenver.edu

The hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis goes through a series of complicated, but well coordinated changes as a women enters the menopausal transition. The reproductive consequences of these changes are obvious, but there are also a number of general health consequences as well. As our understanding of the complex inter-workings of the HPO axis evolves, we will be better able to predict menopausal events and create strategies and treatments to optimize women's health as the progress through the menopausal transition.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007030	Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System	A collection of NEURONS, tracts of NERVE FIBERS, endocrine tissue, and blood vessels in the HYPOTHALAMUS and the PITUITARY GLAND. This hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal circulation provides the mechanism for hypothalamic neuroendocrine (HYPOTHALAMIC HORMONES) regulation of pituitary function and the release of various PITUITARY HORMONES into the systemic circulation to maintain HOMEOSTASIS.	Hypothalamic Hypophyseal System,Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis,Hypophyseal Portal System,Hypothalamic-Pituitary Unit,Hypothalamic Hypophyseal Systems,Hypothalamic Pituitary Unit,Hypothalamo Hypophyseal System,Hypothalamo Pituitary Adrenal Axis,Portal System, Hypophyseal
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D010053	Ovary	The reproductive organ (GONADS) in female animals. In vertebrates, the ovary contains two functional parts: the OVARIAN FOLLICLE for the production of female germ cells (OOGENESIS); and the endocrine cells (GRANULOSA CELLS; THECA CELLS; and LUTEAL CELLS) for the production of ESTROGENS and PROGESTERONE.	Ovaries
D004704	Endocrinology	A subspecialty of internal medicine concerned with the metabolism, physiology, and disorders of the ENDOCRINE SYSTEM.	Endocrinology and Metabolism Specialty,Metabolism and Endocrinology Specialty
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000375	Aging	The gradual irreversible changes in structure and function of an organism that occur as a result of the passage of time.	Senescence,Aging, Biological,Biological Aging
D016387	Women's Health	The concept covering the physical and mental conditions of women.	Woman's Health,Womens Health,Health, Woman's,Health, Women's,Health, Womens
D017697	Premenopause	The period before MENOPAUSE. In premenopausal women, the climacteric transition from full sexual maturity to cessation of ovarian cycle takes place between the age of late thirty and early fifty.	Pre-Menopause,Pre-menopausal Period,Premenopausal Period,Period, Pre-menopausal