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Biology/removal of the hypothalamus

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Expert: John Locke - 1/6/2009


Question
If  a boy's hypothalamus was removed, how will his puberty be different from other boys?

and... how could the boy be treated to relieve him of this condition?

Thanks for your time :)

Answer
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Removal of the hypothalamus would eliminate the production of gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH), which is responsible for causing the increased secretion of testosterone (in males) that accompanies the onset of puberty and resulting sexual maturation. It would also eliminate the secretion of growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH), which as the name suggests controls the secretion of growth hormone, whose levels peak during puberty as well. Growth hormone, with another hormone that it causes to be released--insulin-like growth factor 1--is responsible for the growth of lean muscle mass, bone, and various soft tissues in the body. As such, the child in question would fail to develop physically and would not mature sexually; he would maintain a similar stature and physical development to that he had achieved at the time that his hypothalamus was removed.

This condition could be treated: GnRH is available as an injectable solution called Factrel, I believe, and GH is also avaialable in various formulations. Should the synthetic GnRH not work, testosterone can be taken directly. I am not aware if GHRH is available for use, but in clinical practice GH is usually prescribed directly anyway if the patient is deficient.

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John Locke

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I will answer all biology-related questions through the undergraduate level. I will explain unclear concepts and suggest approaches to solving problems, but would prefer not to completely solve homework problems for you. If you are completely stumped on homework, tell me what you already know and I will help you as much as possible. Please do not ask me for ideas on school research projects; part of research is determining a suitable area of investigation, and that's not a task that should be completed by someone else. Please don't simply send me your homework for solutions. If you are having difficulty after you have started an analysis, I will be happy to direct your thinking; in particular, I would prefer to not simply solve pedigrees for students, but I will be happy to assist in solving pedigrees that you have already started. If you don't understand how to analyze a pedigree, I'd highly recommend watching this video, in which a biology professor explains the basic concepts of pedigree analysis: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbIHjsn5cHo

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I have a BS in Bioengineering with a concentration in Chemical Engineering (which included a heavy focus on biology), and have taught biology, biochemistry, and related subjects for some time now.

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BS Bioengineering, Penn State University MCAT/DAT/OAT Instructor

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