LH and FSH, Luteinizing Hormone and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone, respectively, are essential gonadotropic glycoprotein hormones secreted by the anterior pituitary gland under the control of hypothalamic GnRH. These two hormones are the primary messengers of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, serving distinct yet complementary roles in regulating the function of the gonads in both males and females. Their coordinated release is paramount for reproductive health and sex steroid production.
Origin
These terms are fundamental to endocrinology, named for their specific physiological actions observed in the gonads. FSH was named for its role in stimulating the growth of ovarian follicles, and LH for its role in inducing luteinization and ovulation. Their discovery provided the critical biochemical link between the pituitary master gland and the peripheral reproductive organs.
Mechanism
FSH stimulates the growth and maturation of ovarian follicles in women and promotes spermatogenesis in the Sertoli cells of the testes in men. LH, conversely, triggers ovulation and the formation of the corpus luteum in women and stimulates the Leydig cells in the testes to synthesize and secrete testosterone in men. The relative concentrations and pulsatile release patterns of LH and FSH are tightly regulated by the gonadal steroids through the HPG axis feedback loop.
Ancillary hormonal agents are system regulators that manage the body's feedback loops to ensure primary hormone therapy is both effective and balanced.
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