Introductory Statement

Abstract

This symposium on nutrition and fertility begins appropriately with an examination of available and recent information on the influences of the nutritional state on the endocrine system. Nutritional factors may influence endocrine function at many levels. They may have effects on synthesis and secretion of the hypothalamic releasing hormones, on synthesis, storage and release of the hormones of the pituitary, on the responses of peripheral endocrine glands such as the thyroid, adrenal cortex and gonads to the respective tropic hormones, or finally on the responsiveness of peripheral cells to effector hormones. Nutritional factors may also have important indirect effects. For example, infant nutrition by influencing the vigor of breastfeeding may affect ovulation.