Central precocious puberty and gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist treatment

Abstract

In order to understand the processes occurring during precocious puberty, one needs to specify what is currently known about normal pubertal development. Puberty can be defined as a maturational process of the hypothalamic-pituitarygonadal axis, which results in the development of the gonads and, concomitantly, in the physical and physiological processes which constitute adulthood and the capacity to reproduce. The regulation of puberty is a very complex process, involving the hormonal interaction of the cells in the hypothalamus, pituitary and gonads. A central role in this process is played by the Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH or LHRH: Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone) which is produced and secreted by the hypothalamus