So one of our readers asked us this question the other day: How do our bodies know to start puberty, where is the clock for that?
ANSWER
The hypothalamus is the control or master gland of the body controlling all the other endocrine glands of the body, including the testes in boys and ovaries in girls.
At birth there is normally a mini puberty lasting about 6 months where the level of a hypothalamus derived hormone called GnRH (or LHRH in some countries) is very high, which causes the pituitary gland to release two hormones called LH and FSH which in turn act on the testes and ovaries.
Levels of GnRH then fall away to practically zero, as do levels of LH and FSH until the time puberty is due.
There is a gene called GPR54 and this is thought to be a puberty regulation gene as it helps to set the time of puberty by releasing a hormone called Kisspeptin which tells the hypothalamus when to release GnRH to start puberty.
The timing is set so when the body is big enough to be able to become fertile, puberty will be initiated by allowing the release of Kisspeptin. This timing can be influenced by external and genetic factors where puberty can start early or not at all (as in in Kallmann syndrome). Timing of puberty can be influenced by poor diet or excess fat in the diet which affects the levels of certain hormones or is can be influenced by excessive exercise.
