A review on effects of agrochemicals on hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone neuron-pituitary gonadotropic reproductive axis
- VernacularTitle:农用化学品干扰下丘脑促性腺激素释放激素神经元-垂体促性腺生殖轴功能研究进展
- Author:
Yanping RUAN
1
;
Jing LIU
1
Author Information
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords: agrochemicals; hypothalamus; pituitary; gonadotropin-releasing hormone; gonadotropins
- From: Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2026;43(3):376-386
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
- Abstract: The hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis is the central neuroendocrine regulator of vertebrate reproduction, governing sexual maturation, reproductive function, and endocrine homeostasis through multilevel hormonal cascades. It is also a sensitive target for environmental endocrine disruptors. Hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons and pituitary gonadotropes are located upstream of the HPG axis, and are indispensable for reproductive and endocrine functions. Agrochemicals represent a major class of endocrine-disrupting chemicals capable of interfering with GnRH pulsatility as well as the synthesis and release of gonadotropins through multiple pathways. This review summarized recent epidemiological and toxicological evidence concerning the effects of insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and plant growth regulators on hypothalamic GnRH neuron-pituitary gonadotropes. It surveyed the evidence linking agrochemicals exposure to abnormalities in hypothalamic GnRH pulsatility and disturbances in gonadotropin synthesis and secretion, and further examined the roles of key pathways such as the Kisspeptin/G protein-coupled receptor 54 system, neurotransmitters and signaling molecules, ion channels, as well as oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. Current research remains largely confined to insecticides, with significant limitations in simulating real-world exposure complexity and systematically elucidating underlying toxic mechanisms. Future studies should expand to other agrochemicals classes and integrate emerging approaches such as multi-omics and computational toxicology to systematically identify the integrated mechanisms disrupting upstream HPG axis functions. Such efforts will provide more comprehensive scientific evidence for assessing the reproductive toxicity of agrochemicals.
