The Luteinizing Hormone (LH) mechanism describes the specific sequence of molecular and cellular events triggered by the binding of LH to its receptor, primarily within the gonads of both males and females. This glycoprotein hormone, secreted by the anterior pituitary, is crucial for stimulating sex steroid production and facilitating key reproductive events. A precisely timed surge in LH is the critical signal for ovulation in women, while its continuous action drives testosterone synthesis in men.
Origin
Luteinizing Hormone derives its name from the Latin word luteus, meaning yellow, referencing its role in forming the corpus luteum, the yellow body that remains in the ovary after ovulation. The mechanism’s understanding is foundational to the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal (HPG) axis, established through endocrinological research on reproductive cycles. Clinical medicine relies heavily on understanding this mechanism for diagnosing and treating infertility and hormonal disorders.
Mechanism
LH binds to the LH receptor (LHR), a G-protein coupled receptor, on Leydig cells in the testes and thecal and luteal cells in the ovaries. This binding activates the adenylate cyclase-cAMP second messenger system, which subsequently upregulates the activity of steroidogenic enzymes, most notably cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme. This enzymatic cascade converts cholesterol into the primary sex steroids, testosterone in males and the precursors for estrogen and progesterone in females, thereby controlling gamete maturation and secondary sexual characteristics.
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