Luteinizing hormone (LH)

Definition

Luteinizing hormone (LH) is a glycoprotein hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland. It plays a key role in regulating the function of the gonads in both males and females.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. In females, LH triggers ovulation and stimulates the corpus luteum to produce progesterone.
2. In males, LH stimulates Leydig cells in the testes to produce testosterone.
3. LH levels surge mid-cycle to cause ovulation, which is critical for female fertility.
4. Regulation of LH is controlled by gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus.
5. Both high and low levels of LH can indicate reproductive health issues or endocrine disorders.

Review Questions

• What role does LH play in male reproductive physiology?
• Describe how LH levels change during the menstrual cycle and what these changes trigger.
• Which hormone regulates the release of luteinizing hormone from the anterior pituitary?

Related terms

Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH): A hormone produced by the anterior pituitary that works alongside LH to regulate reproductive processes such as spermatogenesis and follicular development.

Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH): A hormone secreted by the hypothalamus that stimulates the anterior pituitary to release both LH and FSH.

Corpus Luteum: A temporary endocrine structure involved in producing progesterone during the second half of the menstrual cycle following ovulation.