ABSTRACT
In the female reproductive system, hormonal relationships among the ovaries, pituitary, and brain function in an orchestrated manner in order to ensure an orderly maturation of oocytes for fertilization. Steroid feedback from the ovaries to the brain induces coordinated activity within multiple neuronal pathways that collectively serve to provide a hormonal signal to the pituitary, stimulating the midcycle surge
3.1 Introduction .................................................................................................... 39 3.2 Neuroendocrine Control of Ovarian Function................................................ 41
3.2.1 Rat Ovarian Cycle............................................................................... 41 3.2.2 Estrogen and Progesterone Action on the Brain: Synchronizing
Behavior with Ovulation ..................................................................... 43 3.2.3 Steroid Hormone Source and Synthesis over the Ovarian Cycle .......44
