The complex cascade of biochemical events initiated when Luteinizing Hormone (LH), a glycoprotein secreted by the anterior pituitary gland, binds to its specific receptors on target cells in the gonads—Leydig cells in males and theca and granulosa cells in females. This signaling is the primary physiological driver for sex steroid hormone production, including testosterone and estrogen, making it a central regulator of reproductive and overall hormonal health. The integrity of this signaling pathway is crucial for fertility and metabolic function.
Origin
The term is foundational to endocrinology, with the discovery of LH and its function tracing back to early 20th-century pituitary research. The etymology of Luteinizing refers to its primary role in females: stimulating the formation of the corpus luteum from the ovarian follicle post-ovulation. Signaling refers to the molecular transduction pathway that transmits the hormonal message into a cellular response.
Mechanism
Upon binding to the G protein-coupled LH receptor (LHR), the hormone activates the adenylate cyclase pathway, leading to a rapid increase in intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP). This second messenger then activates Protein Kinase A (PKA), which phosphorylates various intracellular enzymes, notably those involved in the steroidogenic pathway. The ultimate mechanism is the conversion of cholesterol into sex hormones, driving the production of testosterone in the testes and androgens and progesterone in the ovaries.
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