The nuclear receptor steroidogenic factor 1 is essential for the formation of the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus.

TLDR

SF‑1 regulates androgen and Müllerian‑inhibiting substance production, is essential for adrenal and gonadal development, and is expressed in the embryonic ventral diencephalon where it localizes to the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus, a key region for reproductive behavior. Loss of SF‑1 in mice disrupts ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus structure while leaving GnRH neurons intact, yet exogenous GnRH can rescue pituitary gonadotropin expression, underscoring SF‑1’s essential role in this reproductive nucleus.

Abstract

The nuclear receptor steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1) regulates the biosynthesis of the two essential mediators of male sexual differentiation, androgens and Müllerian-inhibiting substance, and is required for adrenal and gonadal development and gonadotropin expression. SF-1 is also expressed in the embryonic ventral diencephalon, subsequently localizing to the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus, a region important for reproductive behavior. Mice lacking SF-1 secondary to targeted disruption of the Ftz-F1 gene had normal numbers and location of GnRH neurons but exhibited grossly impaired ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus structure. Despite their apparently normal GnRH neurons, treatment of Ftz-F1-disrupted mice with GnRH restored pituitary gonadotropin expression. These studies define SF-1's essential role within a discrete hypothalamic nucleus previously linked to reproduction.