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Pituitary Gonadal Feedback

Meaning

Pituitary gonadal feedback describes the essential endocrine regulatory loop involving the pituitary gland and the gonads, which are the testes in males and the ovaries in females, controlling the production of sex hormones and gametes. The pituitary gland releases luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which stimulate the gonads to produce testosterone or estrogen and progesterone. Crucially, these gonadal hormones then exert a negative feedback effect on the pituitary and the hypothalamus, suppressing the further release of LH and FSH to maintain hormonal homeostasis. This intricate system is vital for reproductive function, bone density, muscle mass, and psychological well-being throughout the lifespan.