LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS*

A = adenine, androstenedione

Ab = antibody

ABP = androgen-binding protein

AC = adenyl cyclase

ACTH = adrenocorticotropin

AFP = alpha fetoprotein

AI = artificial insemination

APC = antigen-presenting cell

ARC = arcuate nucleus

ATP = adenosine triphosphate

BMP = bone morphogenetic protein

BPH = benign prostatic hyperplasia

C = carbon, cytosine, catalytic subunit (kinase), connecting (peptide), cytokinesis

CA = corpus albicans

cAMP = cyclic adenosine monophosphate

CAP = catabolite activator protein

cDNA = complementary DNA

cGMP = cyclic guanine monophosphate

CH = corpus hemorrhagicum

CIA = chemiluminescent assay

CIDR = controlled internal drug-releasing

CL = corpus luteum

CNS = central nervous system

CREB = cAMP response element binding protein

CRH = corticotropin-releasing hormone

CSF = colony-stimulating factor

D = deoxyribose

D & C = dilation and curettage

DA = dopamine

DCR = decidual cell reaction

DES = diethylstilbestrol

DG = diacylglycerol

DHEA = dehydroepiandrosterone

DHT = dihydrotestosterone

DNA = deoxyribonucleic acid

E = enzyme

E1 = estrone

E2 = estradiol

E3 = estriol

eCG = equine choriogonadotropin (PMSG)

EGF = epidermal growth factor

EIA = enzyme immunoassay

ELISA = enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

EOP = endogenous opioid peptide

EPF = early pregnancy factor

ET = embryo transfer

FDA = Food and Drug Administration

FGF = fibroblast growth factor

FIA = fluoroimmunoassay

FSH = follicle-stimulating hormone (follitropin)

G = guanine

Gi = inhibitory G transducer protein

Gs = stimulatory G transducer protein

GABA = gamma aminobutyric acid

GAP = GnRH-associated peptide

GC = guanylate cyclase

GDF = growth differentiation factor

GDP = guanosine diphosphate

GH = growth hormone (somatotropin)

GIFT = gamete intrafallopian transfer

GnRH = gonadotropin-releasing hormone (LHRH, LHRH/FSHRH, gonadoliberin, luliberin)

GTP = guanosine triphosphate

H = hormone, hydrogen

H* = radioactive hormone

hCG = human chorionic gonadotropin

HDL = high-density lipoprotein

HGF-SF = hepatocyte growth factor-scatter factor

HIOMT = hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase

hMG = human menopausal gonadotropin

HPETE = hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic

HPLC = high performance liquid chromatography

HRT = hormone replacement therapy

HSD = hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase

HSP = heat shock protein

I = inhibitory subunit of protein kinase

ICSH = interstitial cell-stimulating hormone (LH)

ICSI = intracytoplasmic sperm injection

IFN = interferon

IGF = insulin-like growth factor

IgG = gamma immunoglobulin

III = third ventricle

IL = interleukin

IN = intermediate spermatogonia

IP3 = inositol triphosphate

IRMA = immunoradiometric assay

IUD = intrauterine device

IVF = in vitro fertilization

IVM = in vitro maturation

Jak/Stat = Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription

kDa = kilodalton

LDL = low-density lipoprotein

LH = luteinizing hormone (lutropin)

LIF = leukemia-inhibitory factor

LT = leukotriene

LX = lipoxin

M = mitosis

MB = mammillary body

MBH = medial basal hypothalamus

Mg = magnesium

MHC = major histocompatibility complex

MIH = Mullerian-inhibiting hormone

MPA = medroxyprogesterone acetate

mRNA = messenger RNA

MSH = melanocyte-stimulating hormone (melanotropin)

N = nitrogen

NAT = N-acetyltransferase

NGF = nerve growth factor

NRP = nuclear regulatory protein

NSAID = nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug

O = oxygen

OC = optic chiasma

OH = hydroxy group

OMI = oocyte maturation inhibitor

OVLT = organum vasculosum of lamina terminalis

P = pituitary, phosphate group, product

P4 = progesterone

P5 = pregnenolone

PAF = platelet-activating factor

PC = phospholipase C

PCR = polymerase chain reaction

PD = pars distalis

PDGF = platelet-derived growth factor

PES = prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase

PG = prostaglandin

PI = pars intermedia

PIF = prolactin-inhibiting factor

PIP2 = phosphatidylinositol biphosphate

PMDD = premenstrual dysphoric disorder

PMS = premenstrual syndrome

PMSG = pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin

PN = pars nervosa

POA = preoptic area

POF = premature ovarian failure

POMC = proopiomelanocortin

PRF = prolactin-releasing factor

PRL = prolactin

PSA = prostate-specific antigen

PT = pars tuberalis

PVN = paraventricular nucleus

R = ribose, receptor

RIA = radioimmunoassay

RNA = ribonucleic acid

RRA = radioreceptor assay

rRNA = ribosomal RNA

S = substrate

SCN = suprachiasmatic nucleus

SF = steroidogenic factor

SHBG = sex hormone-binding globulin

SON = supraoptic nucleus

SPA = scintillation proximity assay

SRY = sex-determining region of the Y chromosome

StAR = steroidogenic acute regulatory protein

T = thalamus, thymine, testosterone

TGF = transforming growth factor

TNF = tumor necrosis factor

TRH = thyrotropin-releasing hormone

tRNA = transfer RNA

TSH = thyroid-stimulating hormone (thyrotropin)

TX = thromboxane

U = uracil

VEGF = vascular endothelial growth factor

VIP = vasointestinal peptide

ZIFT = zygote intrafallopian transfer

Zn = zinc

*Codes for amino acids are listed in Table 2-3 under the subheading Protein synthesis and secretion.