The intricate homeostatic control system that governs the synthesis, secretion, transport, and metabolic breakdown of the androgen hormone testosterone within the body. This process is tightly controlled by the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal (HPG) axis through a negative feedback loop. Proper testosterone regulation is essential for maintaining muscle mass, bone density, libido, erythropoiesis, and overall metabolic health in both sexes. Disruptions in this regulatory axis can lead to clinical conditions like hypogonadism or hyperandrogenism.
Origin
The term combines “testosterone,” a name derived from its testicular origin and steroid structure, with “regulation,” from the Latin regula (rule, straight edge). It is a core concept in endocrinology, describing the precise biological mechanisms that maintain hormone levels within a healthy physiological range. Understanding this regulation is key to hormonal therapy.
Mechanism
Regulation is primarily mediated by the negative feedback mechanism of the HPG axis: the hypothalamus releases GnRH, stimulating the pituitary to release LH. LH then acts on the Leydig cells in the testes (or thecal cells in the ovary) to stimulate testosterone synthesis. Elevated circulating testosterone then inhibits the release of GnRH and LH, completing
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