The chapters in this book represent presentations at the first meeting ever held on the regulation and actions of follicle stimulating hormone. The meeting took place on the campus of Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, from October 25 to 28, 1990. The idea for this meeting was conceived by Neena B. Schwartz, and the valuable advice of the organizing committee contributed greatly to its scientific success. We gratefully acknowledge the funding and coordination of this meeting by Serono Symposia, USA. We also wish to acknowledge the financial contributions made by Northwestern University. We especially thank the invited speakers, poster presenters, and discussion participants who pro vided the science, interest, and enthusiasm that made this meeting on FSH a success. MARY HUNZICKER-DUNN NEENA B. SCHWARTZ vii Contents Preface… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … . vii Contributors … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … . xv 1. An Overview of FSH Regulation and Action … … … … … … … … … … ULRIKE LUDERER AND NEENA B. SCHWARTZ Part I. Neuroendocrinology of FSH Secretion 2. Modulation of Gonadotropin Secretion by Proteins of the Inhibin Family: Studies in the Female Rat… … … … … … … … … … … . . 29 CATHERINE RIVIER AND WYLIE V ALE 3. Control of Follicle Stimulating Hormone Secretion in the Male Rhesus Monkey (Macaca mulatta) … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … . 40 TONY M. PLANT 4. The Physiology of Puberty in Seasonally Breeding Birds … … … . . 54 BRIAN K. FOLLETT 5. Hypothalamic Regulation of FSH Secretion … … … … … … … … … … . . 66 JON E. LEVINE, LISA A. CONAGHAN, ULRIKE LUDERER, AND FRANK J. STROBL 6. Photoperiodic Control of Reproduction in Male Hamsters: Role of FSH in Early Stages of Photo stimulation … … … … … … … . . 83 FRED W. TUREK AND NEENA B.