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Gonadotropes

Meaning

Gonadotropes are specialized endocrine cells situated within the anterior pituitary gland that are primarily responsible for the synthesis and pulsatile secretion of the two critical gonadotropic hormones: Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH). These cells serve as the central effectors of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, governing the entire spectrum of reproductive function and the necessary production of sex steroids in both male and female physiology. Their activity is precisely and dynamically regulated by Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) originating from the hypothalamus.