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-Metacelsus- t1_iv5426w wrote

One major change that happens during puberty is an increase in the levels of sex hormones such as estradiol and testosterone, which are produced by the gonads. These steroid hormones bind to nuclear receptors (estrogen receptor and androgen receptor). These receptors are transcription factors that regulate the expression of many genes, including ones related to secondary sex characteristics such as breast development (estrogen) and facial hair growth (androgen).

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tchomptchomp t1_iv55wep wrote

There's also a shift in thyroid hormone levels with a similar result, as well as competition for binding sites with other NHRs such as RAR and RXR.

Additionally, many of these are upstream of other transcription factors either directly or via classic signaling pathways, so there's a whole range of ways in which puberty acts on gene transcription!

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captaincumsock69 t1_iv5jvl1 wrote

Do we know what ultimately causes the gonads to release these hormones? How does this process get started about 12ish years after birth?

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klartraume t1_iv5mbd4 wrote

From what I recall, it requires a certain level of body fat in women (i.e. the body wants to know it can sustain a pregnancy) and a certain level of bone density in men.

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-Metacelsus- t1_iv633r9 wrote

It requires the hormone leptin which is produced by body fat.

Notably the average age of onset of puberty is getting younger and younger. This might have something to do with obesity.

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