Neuroendocrinology, a discipline bridging the complex interplay between the nervous and endocrine systems, has deep roots in French scientific history. It is often considered that its foundation was laid by Claude Bernard in 1853, with his groundbreaking concept of “constance du milieu intérieur” (constancy of the internal environment). Claude Bernard’s observations that tissues and organs could secrete substances into the blood, set the stage for future discoveries on how the brain influences the main functions of the body, a precursory foretaste of what was to become neuroendocrinology. Other French renowned scientists have also contributed to the evolution of neuroendocrinology. For example, Gustave Roussy contributed to the understanding of the hypothalamus’s role in conditions such as diabetes insipidus and introduced the concept of neurosecretion. These early contributions laid the groundwork for modern neuroendocrinology, even though the term and the field itself were not yet fully developed. The official establishment of neuroendocrinology as a recognized discipline in France came with the foundation of the Société de Neuroendocrinologie Expérimentale (SNE) in 1971 by Jacques Marie Benoit. Jacques Marie Benoit, whose research focused on the hormonal relationships between the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland, created the society to promote fundamental research and foster collaboration among scientists. The SNEs first annual conference was held in Strasbourg, marking the start of an ongoing dialogue among neuroendocrinologists. The importance of neuroendocrinology gained international recognition in 1977 when Roger Guillemin, Andrew W. Schally, and Rosalyn Yalow were awarded the Nobel Prize for their discovery of hypothalamic peptides such as TRH, GnRH, and somatostatin. Roger Guillemin was a French scientist, who conducted most of his research abroad, underscoring the challenges that some French neuroendocrinologists faced in gaining recognition at home. Fortunately, not all of them emigrated and neuroendocrinology has remained very active, fostering international collaboration. Indeed, some scientific leaders, such as Claude Kordon (who was Editor-in-Chief of Neuroendocrinology from 1994 to 2005), have played an active role in encouraging cooperation between French and foreign neuroendocrinologists. Today, a third of SNE members are from abroad and SNE annual meetings have been hosted not only in France but also in QC, Belgium, and Switzerland, where the next colloquium will take place in October 2025. This international aspect demonstrates that the field transcends national boundaries. The French neuroendocrinology international influence also manifested through its hosting of the Seventh International Congress of Neuroendocrinology (ICN2010) in Rouen, showcasing France’s leadership in the field.
The success of French neuroendocrinology lies in its ability to bridge multiple disciplines – neuroscience, endocrinology, and more – without losing its unique focus or dynamism. This diversity of subjects can sometimes tempt researchers to approach organizations more focused on specific physiological processes such as neuroimmunology or on major pathologies such as diabetes. Nevertheless, at a time when research is increasingly integrated, neuroendocrinology allows us to maintain a global vision of the numerous interactions that exist between different organs and to establish cross-disciplinary collaborations to elucidate complex physiological processes.
This diversity of subjects addressed in the various major university centers in France makes the richness of our community as illustrated through the 9 excellent articles published in this special issue. These articles allow us to better understand certain physiological functions such as the circadian pacemaker [1] and the regulation of energy and glucose metabolisms [2]. Two publications address the genetic variation of the HPA axis activity in farm animals [3] and the role of oxytocin neurons in the supraoptic nucleus in social safety [4]. Two publications also describe recent findings regarding the neuroendocrine system, i.e., the caudal neurosecretory system [5] and the gonadotrope lineage differentiation in the developing pituitary [6]. Finally, three other publications contribute to understand the occurrence of diseases by elucidating factors responsible for cognitive disorders [7], depression [8], or even possibly Alzheimer’s disease [9].
These publications show that today, neuroendocrinology in France has continue to develop around themes for which the teams are often known worldwide. There is no doubt that neuroendocrinology will continue to thrive, nurturing young talents, fostering global collaborations, and promoting groundbreaking research that enhances our understanding of how the brain and body interact. We can therefore anticipate that the future of neuroendocrinology in France built on a legacy of scientific research and cooperation carried by a close-knit and involved community will remain at the forefront of medical science.
David Vaudry, Editor-in-Chief of Neuroendocrinology
Conflict of Interest Statement
David Vaudry is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal. Otherwise, the author has no conflicts of interest to declare.
Funding Sources
No funding was received for this article.
Author Contributions
David Vaudry is the sole author of this article.
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