What is the Origin of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Release?

The term combines the hormone's name, derived from its function of stimulating the ovarian follicle, with release, denoting its secretion from the pituitary. FSH was one of the first pituitary hormones isolated and its function was elucidated in the early 20th century, establishing the foundational understanding of the HPG axis. Its measurement is a core clinical tool in assessing fertility and gonadal function.

What is the Mechanism of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Release?

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), released in pulses from the hypothalamus, stimulates the gonadotroph cells in the anterior pituitary to synthesize and secrete FSH. The rate of GnRH pulsing, alongside the negative feedback from gonadal hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and inhibin, precisely controls the FSH release pattern. This intricate feedback loop ensures the appropriate timing of follicular development and sperm production, maintaining reproductive homeostasis.

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Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Release

Meaning

Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) release is the pulsatile secretion of this gonadotropic hormone from the anterior pituitary gland, a process fundamental to reproductive endocrinology in both males and females. In females, FSH stimulates the growth and maturation of ovarian follicles and regulates estrogen production. In males, it acts on the Sertoli cells in the testes to support spermatogenesis, thereby maintaining reproductive capacity. The precise timing and magnitude of this release are governed by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis.