Biology of Menopause presents the proceedings of an international symposium held from September 10-13, 1998 in Newport Beach, CA. The proceedings review current knowledge and explores future research directions on the biologic changes of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis across the menopausal transition and the associated changes in physiologic systems outside of the HPO axis, including the brain, the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems. Additionally, chapters present new methods of study and emerging areas of research.

Inhalt

1. New Understanding of the Complexity of the Menopause and Challenges for the Future.- I. Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Ovarian Axis During Reproductive Aging.- 2. Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone (LHRH) Neuronal Function in Middle-Aged Female Rats.- 3. Reproductive Aging and the Human Hypothalamus.- 4. Alterations in the Pattern of Gonadotropin Secretion During the Menopausal Transition.- 5. Clinical and Scientific Significance of Perimenopausal Changes in Pituitary and Ovarian Hormone Secretion.- 6. Follicular Depletion and the Menopausal Transition.- 7. Ovarian Follicle Recruitment and Secretory Capacity in Women of Advanced Reproductive Age.- 8. New Strategies in Studying Ovarian Aging.- II. Effects of Reproductive Aging on Nonreproductive Tissues.- 9. Novel Mechanisms of Estrogen Action in the Developing Brain.- 10. Neuroprotective Effects of Estrogens.- 11. Cognitive Changes and Aging: Is Estrogen a Factor?.- 12. Age-Related Changes and Hormonal Regulation of Mesenchymal Stromal Stem Cells from Human Vertebral Bone Marrow.- 13. Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis.- 14. Changes in Cardiovascular Risk Factors During the Peri- and Postmenopausal Years.- 15. Estrogen and the Vascular Injury Response.- 16. Effects of Mammalian and Plant Estrogens on Lipoprotein Metabolism and Coronary Heart Disease.- 17. Potential Cardioprotective Effects of Estrogen Involving Ion Channels, Endothelium, and Coronary Artery Reactivity.- 18. Role of the Membrane Estrogen Receptor in Vascular Cell Physiology.- 19. Role of Nitric Oxide in the Antiatherosclerotic Effect of 17?-Estradiol.- 20. Biological and Psychosocial Factors Affecting Sexual Functioning During the Menopausal Transition.- III. New Methods and Emerging Areas.- 21. Transgenic Models to Study Reproduction, Oncogenesis, and Development.- 22. Studying the Genetics of Complex But Common Human Diseases Using Mice.- 23. The Classic Steroid Hormone Receptors and ER?, the Novel Estrogen Receptor.- 24. Estrogen Receptor Alpha versus Beta: New Estrogen Responsive Tissues and New Potentials for HRT.- 25. Putting the Menopause into Perspective: Lessons Learned from the Biology of Menopause.- Author Index.