mGluRs could be exerting a fine tune on the release of hypothalamic factors that regulate hormone release such as Substance P, GABA, alpha-MSH and CRH. Group II mGluR exert a direct inhibitory effect on anterior pituitary prolactin and GH secretion. Moreover, some group II mGluR agonists, like LY 354,740 and LY 379,268, can modulate PRL secretion from the anterior pituitary through their actions as dopamine receptor agonists. Evidence suggests a role for group III mGluR subtypes in stress-related behavioral disorders.
Several reports indicate that selective ligands for mGluR subtypes have potential for the treatment of a wide variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease among others. Since converging lines of evidence suggest a role for mGluRs subtypes in neuroendocrine regulation of hormone secretion, mGluRs neuroendocrine actions must be taken in consideration to insure proper treatment of these diseases.
Moreover, discovery of selective agonists provides an opportunity to investigate the physiological role of mGluR subtypes and to directly test the neuroendocrine actions of mGluRs. Finally, mGluRs selective agonists may have an impact in the treatment of conditions involving chronic stress, such as depression and anxiety disorders, since they regulate neuroendocrine stress circuits involving the HPA axis and stress-sensitive hormones such as oxytocin and prolactin. This review aims to provide a survey of our current understanding of the effects of mGluR activation on neuroendocrine function.