Gonadotropin Regulation in Female Reproductive Physiology
Summary
Gonadotropins, principally follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), are central to the orchestration of ovarian follicle growth, steroid production and ovulation. Their secretion is governed by pulsatile release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus, which acts on pituitary gonadotrophs to regulate synthesis and secretion of FSH and LH. This hypothalamic–pituitary–ovarian loop is finely tuned by feedback from oestradiol, progesterone and inhibins produced by the growing follicle and corpus luteum. During the follicular phase, low-to-moderate oestradiol exerts negative feedback to moderate gonadotropin output, whereas a sustained rise in oestradiol triggers a switch to positive feedback, precipitating the mid-cycle LH surge and ovulation. Following ovulation, progesterone predominates and re-establishes negative feedback to suppress further gonadotropin secretion during the luteal phase. Disruption of pulsatility, feedback sensitivity or receptor function at any locus in this axis underlies disorders of ovulation, infertility and ovarian dysfunction. Advances in molecular characterisation of GnRH receptors, gonadotroph signal transduction and ovarian follicle dynamics have illuminated new therapeutic targets for ovulation induction, contraception and mitigation of endocrine-disrupting chemical effects.
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Gonadotropin Regulation in Female Reproductive Physiology publication trend
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Technical terms
Gonadotropins: Peptide hormones (FSH and LH) secreted by the anterior pituitary that regulate ovarian follicle growth and ovulation.
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH): Hypothalamic decapeptide that stimulates pulsatile release of FSH and LH from pituitary gonadotrophs.
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH): Gonadotropin that promotes growth and maturation of ovarian follicles and oestradiol synthesis by granulosa cells.
Luteinizing hormone (LH): Gonadotropin responsible for triggering ovulation, corpus luteum formation and progesterone secretion.
Hypothalamic–pituitary–ovarian axis: Integrated endocrine feedback system coordinating hormone release between hypothalamus, pituitary gland and ovaries.
References
- Alterations of the hormones follitropin and lutropin in the blood of young mice dosed with lindane. Bulletin of the National Research Centre (2024).
- Study of the effect of prolactin on FSH and LH hormones and fertility in women in Tocra – Libya. مجلة الجامعة الأسمرية (2021).
- Subcutaneous Pulsatile LH-RH Therapy of Secondary Amenorrhoe. Upsala Journal of Medical Sciences (1984).
- Induction of Ovulation with Pulsatile LH-RH in Infertile Women. Upsala Journal of Medical Sciences (1984).
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