RT Book, Section A1 Hoffman, Barbara L. A1 Schorge, John O. A1 Bradshaw, Karen D. A1 Halvorson, Lisa M. A1 Schaffer, Joseph I. A1 Corton, Marlene M. SR Print(0) ID 1125287180 T1 Reproductive Endocrinology T2 Williams Gynecology, 3e YR 2016 FD 2016 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 978-0-07-184908-1 LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1125287180 RD 2024/11/02 AB Reproductive endocrinology is the study of hormones and neuroendocrine factors that are produced by and/or affect reproductive tissues. These tissues include the hypothalamus, anterior pituitary gland, ovary, endometrium, and placenta. A hormone is classically described as a cell product that is secreted into the peripheral circulation and that exerts its effects in distant target tissues (Fig. 15-1). This is termed endocrine secretion. Additional forms of cell-to-cell communication exist in reproductive physiology. Paracrine communication, common within the ovary, refers to chemical signaling between neighboring cells. Autocrine communication occurs when a cell releases substances that influence its own function. Production of a substance within a cell that affects that cell before secretion is termed an intracrine effect.