Investigating crosstalk in lipid rafts between the glucocorticoid receptor and gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor signaling pathways in a gonadotrope cell line

Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 121-158).A recent study from the Hapgood laboratory demonstrated the presence of a novel crosstalk mechanism between the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (GnRHR), indicating an additional direct mechanism for the effects of stress on reproduction. The present study investigated whether this crosstalk between the GR and GnRHR involves the co-localization of these receptors to lipid rafts, providing a specialized distinct region where the receptors can be in close proximity and reciprocally modulate each other’s signaling pathways