Meeting Abstract
Puberty and reproduction are critical for the survival of all vertebrate species. Despite a long history of research, we still do not fully understand mechanisms underlying how puberty is initiated. Nor do we know why some wild animals will not breed in captivity even if sexual maturity has been reached. Some seasonally-breeding animals undergo transitions in reproduction that are akin to puberty and reverse puberty every year. Comparative studies have thus allowed us to delve mechanistically into questions of reproductive activation and inhibition. In this lecture, I will provide an overview of how studies on avian reproduction have informed us about the neuroendocrinological mechanisms underlying puberty, seasonal transitions in reproduction and associated behaviors, and reproductive inhibition. I will highlight questions that remain and avenues for future exploration.
