What is the Origin of FSH Secretion?

The concept of FSH secretion is central to classical endocrinology and reproductive physiology, dating back to the isolation and biochemical characterization of the anterior pituitary hormones. The name is derived directly from its primary function in the female reproductive cycle: stimulating the development of the ovarian follicle. Clinical practice uses the accurate measurement of FSH levels to assess the functional status of the pituitary, evaluate ovarian reserve in women, and determine testicular function in men.

What is the Mechanism of FSH Secretion?

The secretion of FSH is tightly controlled by Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH), which is released in a pulsatile manner from the hypothalamus into the pituitary portal system. GnRH stimulates the gonadotroph cells to release both FSH and Luteinizing Hormone (LH). The rate of FSH secretion is also subject to crucial negative feedback from gonadal hormones, notably inhibin, which selectively suppresses FSH release from the pituitary, and sex steroids, which modulate the pituitary's overall sensitivity to GnRH.

FSH Secretion

Meaning

FSH Secretion refers to the regulated release of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone, a critical glycoprotein hormone synthesized and secreted by the gonadotroph cells of the anterior pituitary gland, forming a central component of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal (HPG) axis. In females, FSH is essential as it stimulates the growth of ovarian follicles and initiates the production of estrogen; in males, it acts on Sertoli cells in the testes to support the complex process of spermatogenesis. The precise, pulsatile secretion of FSH is fundamentally necessary for reproductive function and is a key clinical biomarker of gonadal health.