© 1972 by The Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology
The Control of the Reptilian Gonad
Departments of Biology, The College of William and Mary Wilhamsburg, Virginia 23185 Boston Univeisity Boston, Massachusetts 02215
In reptiles, there is adequate evidence to indicate environmental control of the ovarian cycle through hvpothalamic pathways and the subsequent release of tropic hormone (s) from the anterior pituitary. The role of the pineal-parietal complex still remains to be elucidated. In the hypothalamus there appear to be steroid sensitive areas and both progesterone and estrogen appear to have important feedback influences upon gonadal growth ovulation, and ovarian steroid production. Cytological studies of the reptilian pituitary indicate similar cell types to those observed in mammalian pituitaries, but thus far, two gonadotrophs cannot be identified with any certainty. Chemical and biological studies of the action of mammalian gonadotropuis suggest that in reptiles hormones which are FSH-like in mammals are able to stimulate gonadal development, ovulation, and steroid biosynthesis under certain conditions. Preliminary studies of the chemistry of turtle gonadotropuis have so far demonstrated only one active principle, which is chemically similar to mammalian LH, but is far more active than the latter hormone in reptilian systems. Further, the hormone also has FSH-like activity in the reptile. Thus reptilian gonadal development can be stimulated by treatment with a variety of mammalian gonadotropins. Recent studies have indicited an important role for growth hormone, acting in concert with gonadotropin and estrogen in the regulation of vitellogenesis and ovarian growth. Piolactin appears to be an antigonadal agent in reptiles, as does progesterone. The exact manner in which these hormones exert their antigonadal action remains to be clarified, but at least one site of action is the central nervous system; other sites maybe the liver and the fat depot.
Ovarian tissue from reptiles is able to synthesize and secrete steioid hormones by pathways similar to those present in mammalian ovaries. Circulating levels of estrogen have not been measured, but progesterone levels in the blood show distinct changes assocnted with pregnancy and the presence of corpora lutea in the ovary.