Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS
Content archived on 2024-06-18

Metabolic Targeting of GnRH Neurons: Molecular Mechanisms and Neuropeptide Pathways

Objective

Reproduction, an essential function for perpetuation of the species, is under the control of a sophisticated network of regulatory signals, which include nutritional cues and metabolic factors. Disorders of reproductive maturation (puberty) and function are becoming increasingly common in Europe, and other developed countries, and appear to be linked to the rapid increase in metabolic disorders within the community ranging from energy insufficiency to obesity. It is suspected that information on metabolic status is integrated into the control of fertility at the level of the GnRH neuron, the key cell regulating fertility in all mammalian species. How this occurs is not known. The global aim of this project is to gain insight into the neuroendocrine and molecular mechanisms responsible for the metabolic regulation of puberty and fertility, and their eventual alteration in conditions of disturbed energy balance. To this end, a combination of in vivo and ex vivo approaches, using conventional and genetically-modified rodent models, will be implemented in order to evaluate (i) the effects of selected metabolic hormones (ghrelin) and metabolic neuropeptidergic pathways (NPY, AgRP, alpha-MSH) on GnRH neuronal activation, and (ii) to analyze the putative role of the sensor of intracellular energy status, mTOR, in mediating the actions of the above signals on GnRH neurons. It is anticipated that implementation of the project will expand greatly our knowledge of the physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the metabolic control of reproduction. In addition, completion of the proposed workplan will allow the applicant to get acquainted with powerful genetic methodological tools that will strengthen further his experience in neuroendocrinology, boosting his future research career and paving the way for closer scientific collaborations between the outgoing and return Institutions.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.

You need to log in or register to use this function

Keywords

Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

FP7-PEOPLE-IOF-2008
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

MC-IOF - International Outgoing Fellowships (IOF)

Coordinator

UNIVERSIDAD DE CORDOBA
EU contribution
€ 222 090,00
Address
AVENIDA DE MEDINA AZAHARA 5
14005 CORDOBA
Spain

See on map

Region
Sur Andalucía Córdoba
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

No data
My booklet 0 0