17-OHP	17-hydroxyprogesterone
3β-HSD	3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase
5-HT	serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine)
aa	amino acid count
ACTH	adrenocorticotropic hormone
AKT	protein kinase B
APC	antigen-presenting cells
ARC	arcuate nucleus (caudal region of the hypothalamus)
BAT	brown adipose tissue
BSs, BS1, BS2	binding sites, binding site 1, binding site 2, respectively
Box-1, Box-2	the proline-rich and hydrophobic regions in the intracellular domain of cytokine receptor 1 and 2, respectively
cAMP	cyclic adenosine monophosphate
C-C	carbon-carbon bond
CNS	central nervous system
D1, D2	the two fibronectin type III domains of the prolactin receptor
DA	dopamine
DYN	dynorphin
E1, E2, E3, E4	estrone, estradiol, estriol, and estetrol, respectively
ECR	extracellular region of receptor
EPOR	erythropoietin receptor
ER-α	estrogen receptor-α
ERK1/2	extracellular signal-regulated kinase ½
FAK	focal adhesion kinase
FIGO	International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics
FSH	follicle-stimulating hormone
FSHR	follicle-stimulating hormone receptor
GABA	gamma-aminobutyric acid
GC	granulosa cells
GDM	gestational diabetes mellitus
GDP, GTP	guanosine diphosphate and guanosine triphosphate, respectively
GH	growth hormone
GnRH	gonadotropin-releasing hormone (gonadoliberin)
GPER	G protein-coupled estrogen-receptor
GRB2	growth factor receptor-bound protein 2
hCG	human chorionic gonadotropin
HETE	hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid
hGLC	human granulosa cells
HPG axis	hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis
hPL	human placental lactogen (also called human chorionic somatotropin—hCS)
HPO	hypothalamic–pituitary–ovarian axis
HRT	hormonal replacement therapy
ICR	intracellular (cytoplasmic) region of receptor
icv	intracerebroventricular
IL-2R	interleukin-2 receptor
InhA	inhibin A (also marked as αβA)
InhB	inhibin B (also marked as αβB)
IRS	insulin receptor substrate
JAK2	Janus kinase 2
KISS-1R	kisspeptin receptor (also known as GPR54)
KNDγ neurons	kisspeptin/neurokinin B/dynorphin neurons
KP	kisspeptin
LH	luteinizing hormone
LTH	lactotrophs (lactotropic cells)
MAOIs	monoamine oxidase inhibitors
MAPK	mitogen-activated protein kinase
MBH	mediobasal region of the hypothalamus
ME	median eminence of the hypothalamus
mTOR	mammalian target of rapamycin (serine-threonine protein kinase)
NFPAs	non-functioning pituitary adenomas
NKB	neurokinin B
N-linked NGlyS	N-linked glycosylation sites in human proteins
NPFFR1	neuropeptide FF receptor 1
P4	progesterone
PCOS	polycystic ovary syndrome
pE	pyroglutamate (pyroglutamic acid)
PI3	phosphoinositide 3-kinase
PIH	pregnancy-induced hypertension
Pit-1	transcription factor, a member of the POU (Pit-Oct-Unc) homeodomain protein family
POA	preoptic area (rostral region of the hypothalamus)
PRFs	prolactin-releasing factors
PRL	prolactin
PRLBP	prolactin binding protein
PRLR	prolactin receptor (a member of the class I cytokine receptor family)
PRLR-LF	long form of prolactin receptor
pSTAT5	phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 5
Ras/Raf	Ras/Raf kinases
SER	smooth endoplasmic reticulum
SHP2	Src homology 2 (SH2) domain
SMARCA3	SWI/SNF-related matrix-associated actin-dependent regulator of chromatin subfamily A, member 3
SOS	son of sevenless, refers to a set of genes encoding guanine nucleotide exchange factors that act on the Ras subfamily of small GTPases
SRC	Src family kinases
SSRIs	selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
STAT5	signal transducer and activator of transcription 5
STATs	signal transducer and activator of transcription proteins
TCA	tricyclic antidepressants
TGF-β	transforming growth factor-beta
TIDA neurons	tuberoinfundibular dopamine neurons
TMR/TMD	transmembrane region/transmembrane domain of receptor
TpoR	thrombopoietin receptor (also known as MPL)
TRH	thyrotropin-releasing hormone
TSH	thyroid-stimulating hormone
VIP	vasoactive intestinal peptide
VMAT2	vesicular monoamine transporter type-2
WHO	World Health Organization
WSXWS	a conserved amino acid sequence (WS motif) in prolactin receptor