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Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the main cause of female infertility worldwide and corresponds with a high degree of comorbidities and economic burden. How PCOS is passed on from one generation to the next is not clear, but it may be a developmental condition. Most women with PCOS exhibit higher levels of circulating luteinizing hormone, suggestive of heightened gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) release, and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) as compared to healthy women. Excess AMH in utero may affect the development of the female fetus. However, as AMH levels drop during pregnancy in women with normal fertility, it was unclear whether their levels were also elevated in pregnant women with PCOS. Here we measured AMH in a cohort of pregnant women with PCOS and control pregnant women and found that AMH is significantly more elevated in the former group versus the latter. To determine whether the elevation of AMH during pregnancy in women with PCOS is a bystander effect or a driver of the condition in the offspring, we modeled our clinical findings by treating pregnant mice with AMH and followed the neuroendocrine phenotype of their female progeny postnatally. This treatment resulted in maternal neuroendocrine-driven testosterone excess and diminished placental metabolism of testosterone to estradiol, resulting in a masculinization of the exposed female fetus and a PCOS-like reproductive and neuroendocrine phenotype in adulthood. We found that the affected females had persistently hyperactivated GnRH neurons and that GnRH antagonist treatment in the adult female offspring restored their neuroendocrine phenotype to a normal state. These findings highlight a critical role for excess prenatal AMH exposure and subsequent aberrant GnRH receptor signaling in the neuroendocrine dysfunctions of PCOS, while offering a new potential therapeutic avenue to treat the condition during adulthood. Excess anti-Müllerian hormone during pregnancy results in polycystic ovary syndrome-like phenotypes in female offspring, possibly explaining its pathogenesis as well as suggesting a possible therapy.

Reproductive competence in mammals depends on the projection of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons to the hypothalamic median eminence (ME) and the timely release of GnRH into the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis. In adult rodents, GnRH neurons and the specialized glial cells named tanycytes periodically undergo cytoskeletal plasticity. However, the mechanisms that regulate this plasticity are still largely unknown. We demonstrate that Semaphorin7A, expressed by tanycytes, plays a dual role, inducing the retraction of GnRH terminals and promoting their ensheathment by tanycytic end feet via the receptors PlexinC1 and Itgb1, respectively. Moreover, Semaphorin7A expression is regulated during the oestrous cycle by the fluctuating levels of gonadal steroids. Genetic invalidation of Semaphorin7A receptors in mice induces neuronal and glial rearrangements in the ME and abolishes normal oestrous cyclicity and fertility. These results show a role for Semaphorin7A signalling in mediating periodic neuroglial remodelling in the adult ME during the ovarian cycle. Reproduction in mammals is dependent on the function of specific neurons that secrete gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and project their axons to the median eminence (ME) of the hypothalamus. Here the authors show that Semaphorin7A signaling plays a role in mediating the plasticity of GnRH axon terminals and tanycytes in the ME.

Few corporate initiatives of the last ten years have been more influential in the development of a learning culture at work than the corporate learning centre. The first edition of Sam Malone’s book quickly established itself as the definitive concise guide to best practice. The second edition reflects the lessons learned since that time, along with the developments in learning technology. Setting up and sustaining a successful centre involves strategic skills such as planning and championing; technical skills, including budgeting, marketing and evaluation; and the people skills of communicating, influencing and managing change. There are chapters in the book for all the stakeholders involved, including the learners themselves. How to Set Up and Manage a Corporate Learning Centre offers definitive advice on all of these areas. Sam Malone demystifies what is a difficult, expensive and long term project for any organization.

Corporate learning centres should be located where there are high concentrations of employees, and where they are easily accessible and highly visible. A reception area is needed for counselling, course appraisal, administration, course enquiries and storage of learning materials. The booths may be dedicated to particular equipment and specified subject courseware. The environment should offer the right mood and atmosphere for learners. Market research is carried out to establish the likely demand for a corporate learning centre. If this is favourable, then an official launch can be planned and implemented. An in-house sales promotion campaign should be undertaken using notice boards, e-mail, in-house journals and posters. Marketing is not only needed at the launch stage, but also on a continuous basis to maintain custom and interest. An up-to-date catalogue of corporate learning centre courseware and e-learning programmes is necessary. Technical support is essential if the centre is run smoothly. Corporate learning centres should be located where there are high concentrations of employees, and where they are easily accessible and highly visible. A reception area is needed for counselling, course appraisal, administration, course enquiries and storage of learning materials. The booths may be dedicated to particular equipment and specified subject courseware. The environment should offer the right mood and atmosphere for learners. Market research is carried out to establish the likely demand for a corporate learning centre. If this is favourable, then an official launch can be planned and implemented. An in-house sales promotion campaign should be undertaken using notice boards, e-mail, in-house journals and posters. Marketing is not only needed at the launch stage, but also on a continuous basis to maintain custom and interest. An up-to-date catalogue of corporate learning centre courseware and e-learning programmes is necessary. Technical support is essential if the centre is run smoothly.

The media used in corporate learning centres include Compact Disc - Read Only Memory (CD-ROM)/Digital Versatile Disk (DVD), e-learning programmes, audio, Compact Discs (CD), video, the Internet and e-mail, and of course books and workbooks. CD-ROM offers an interactive learning experience between a learner and a computer in which the computer provides the majority of the stimulus, the learner responds, and the computer analyses the response and provides learner feedback. DVD is similar to CD-ROM, but has greater storage capacity. Audiotapes and CDs are very popular with corporate learning centre users, as they can be listened to in the learner's own time and while commuting to and from work. Videotapes are popular for a similar reason, because they can be viewed at home. E-mail and e-learning are some of the most widely used features of the Internet, and are now used extensively by many organizations. There are now a huge variety of Internet-based e-learning programmes available. The media used in corporate learning centres include Compact Disc - Read Only Memory (CD-ROM)/Digital Versatile Disk (DVD), e-learning programmes, audio, Compact Discs (CD), video, the Internet and e-mail, and of course books and workbooks. CD-ROM offers an interactive learning experience between a learner and a computer in which the computer provides the majority of the stimulus, the learner responds, and the computer analyses the response and provides learner feedback. DVD is similar to CD-ROM, but has greater storage capacity. Audiotapes and CDs are very popular with corporate learning centre users, as they can be listened to in the learner's own time and while commuting to and from work. Videotapes are popular for a similar reason, because they can be viewed at home. E-mail and e-learning are some of the most widely used features of the Internet, and are now used extensively by many organizations. There are now a huge variety of Internet-based e-learning programmes available.

This chapter highlights the importance of a marketing plan. A systematic approach to marketing a corporate learning centre was suggested. Marketing should be thought through, and not left to chance. A good plan always starts with the mission and vision statement, and then works through to the objectives. Marketing objectives are about retaining existing customers and creating new ones. The marketing approach during the corporate learning centre's life cycle was considered. The marketing mix strategies, a quality service, sales promotion and personal selling, can help people to achieve their objectives. While in the corporate learning centre, people should be encouraged to browse through the courseware in the display cabinets. At the appropriate time, the co-ordinator may point out the advantages of particular courses, including Internet-based e-learning programmes, and name the people who have already successfully completed them. The more employees who use the corporate learning centre, the more it becomes part of the life and culture of the organization. This chapter highlights the importance of a marketing plan. A systematic approach to marketing a corporate learning centre was suggested. Marketing should be thought through, and not left to chance. A good plan always starts with the mission and vision statement, and then works through to the objectives. Marketing objectives are about retaining existing customers and creating new ones. The marketing approach during the corporate learning centre's life cycle was considered. The marketing mix strategies, a quality service, sales promotion and personal selling, can help people to achieve their objectives. While in the corporate learning centre, people should be encouraged to browse through the courseware in the display cabinets. At the appropriate time, the co-ordinator may point out the advantages of particular courses, including Internet-based e-learning programmes, and name the people who have already successfully completed them. The more employees who use the corporate learning centre, the more it becomes part of the life and culture of the organization.

The costs of a corporate learning centre may be considered under two headings, capital expenditure and revenue expenditure. Capital expenditure is the cost of setting up and equipping the centre, while revenue expenditure is the cost of running the centre. People can need two budgets to control costs: a capital expenditure budget for equipment and premises and a revenue or operating cost budget for software, overheads and running expenses. A capital expenditure budget for equipment and a revenue expenditure budget for software, subscriptions for e-learning programmes and the operating costs of running the centre must be drawn up each year by the co-ordinator, who can agree it with the Training and Development manager. The management information system should provide monthly reports on budgets and actual amounts spent. These should be examined each month to ensure that costs are on target, and any over expenditure investigated and accounted for. The costs of a corporate learning centre may be considered under two headings, capital expenditure and revenue expenditure. Capital expenditure is the cost of setting up and equipping the centre, while revenue expenditure is the cost of running the centre. People can need two budgets to control costs: a capital expenditure budget for equipment and premises and a revenue or operating cost budget for software, overheads and running expenses. A capital expenditure budget for equipment and a revenue expenditure budget for software, subscriptions for e-learning programmes and the operating costs of running the centre must be drawn up each year by the co-ordinator, who can agree it with the Training and Development manager. The management information system should provide monthly reports on budgets and actual amounts spent. These should be examined each month to ensure that costs are on target, and any over expenditure investigated and accounted for.

The motives for introducing corporate learning centres include a desire to keep up to date with information technology, facilitating the learning organization ethos, and making provision for continuing professional education and lifelong learning. The key benefits of open learning are as follows: It recognizes the fact that different people learn at different speeds and in different ways, it helps individuals accept responsibility for their own learning, it encourages self-motivation, and dispels the idea that attendance on courses is the equivalent of effort and achievement and so on. Computer literacy skills are just as important in business as the more conventional skills of reading, writing and arithmetic. Familiarity with computerized corporate systems and the better-known desktop publishing, word processing, spreadsheet and graphics software packages is now considered essential for many jobs. In the new information age, everybody should have some familiarity with computers. The motives for introducing corporate learning centres include a desire to keep up to date with information technology, facilitating the learning organization ethos, and making provision for continuing professional education and lifelong learning. The key benefits of open learning are as follows: It recognizes the fact that different people learn at different speeds and in different ways, it helps individuals accept responsibility for their own learning, it encourages self-motivation, and dispels the idea that attendance on courses is the equivalent of effort and achievement and so on. Computer literacy skills are just as important in business as the more conventional skills of reading, writing and arithmetic. Familiarity with computerized corporate systems and the better-known desktop publishing, word processing, spreadsheet and graphics software packages is now considered essential for many jobs. In the new information age, everybody should have some familiarity with computers.