Fig. 2
From: Review of psychological stress on oocyte and early embryonic development in female mice
Psychological stress regulatory mechanism. Hormonal regulation resulting from psychological stress can be categorized into the HPA and HPO axis pathways. The HPA axis is involved in the neuroendocrine response to psychological stress (right panel). CRH locates the core regulator along the axis, which is released from the hypothalamus, stimulates ACTH release from the pituitary and glucocorticoid secretion from the adrenal gland. In the HPO axis (left panel), GnRH binds to anterior pituitary gonadotrophs to stimulate LH and FSH secretion. FSH acts on granulosa cells, while the LH receptor is primarily expressed by internal theca cells in response to LH stimulation. Decreased serum levels of E2 inhibit GnRH secretion via feedback to the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. The middle panel shows the main biological events in embryonic development and oogenesis. ROS affect oocyte development and maturity mainly through targeted apoptosis and necroptosis