Dear Colleagues,

Hormonal imbalances in the reproductive system in men and women are among the key causes of reproductive disorders that can lead to infertility and miscarriage. Pharmacological approaches are widely used to treat them, including assisted reproductive technologies, but they are not always effective, and in some cases, lead to serious side effects. As a result, it is necessary to develop new drugs and strategies, which is impossible without extensive studies on the molecular basis of hormonal regulation of the reproductive system and without identifying novel molecular targets for pharmacotherapy. This Special Issue will be devoted to new achievements in (1) the study of molecular mechanisms regulating reproductive functions; (2) identifying the molecular causes of reproductive disorders, including endocrine pathology; and (3) the development of new drugs and therapeutic approaches for their treatment.

The main topics are: (1) signaling mechanisms of gonadotropin action in testicular and ovarian cells; (2) molecular basis for the regulation of synthesis and secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and gonadotropins; (3) signaling pathways of GnRH, kisspeptin, and other hypothalamic factors regulating the gonadal axis; (4) small molecule regulators and modulators of gonadotropin, GnRH, and kisspeptin receptors; (5) molecular mechanisms of action of sex steroid hormones, including in spermatogenesis and folliculogenesis; (6) molecular mechanisms of regulation of gonadal axis by adipokines and cytokines, including in endocrine and inflammatory diseases; (7) insulin and related peptides in reproduction; and (8) genome editing technology in infertility treatment. However, the content of the Special Issue is not limited to these topics.

Prof. Alexander Shpakov
Guest Editor