Luteinizing Hormone (LH) function refers to the specific biological roles of this gonadotropic peptide hormone, which is secreted by the anterior pituitary gland. In females, LH is essential for triggering ovulation and stimulating the corpus luteum to produce progesterone. In males, LH acts on the Leydig cells in the testes to stimulate the biosynthesis and secretion of testosterone, the primary male androgen. This crucial regulatory function is central to reproductive health and the maintenance of sex hormone balance in both sexes.
Origin
The term is rooted in classical endocrinology; ‘luteinizing’ refers to its function in females of stimulating the formation of the corpus luteum, or corpus luteum, after ovulation. LH is one of the two main gonadotropins, alongside Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH). Its function has been understood since the mid-20th century as part of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal (HPG) axis.
Mechanism
LH release is governed by the pulsatile secretion of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus. LH then travels through the bloodstream to bind to specific LH receptors (LHCGR) on target cells in the gonads. This binding activates the adenylate cyclase-cAMP second messenger system, which initiates the cascade of enzymatic reactions necessary for the synthesis of steroid hormones, specifically testosterone in males and progesterone/estradiol in females. This is a classic example of endocrine signaling.
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