Luteiniseerivat

Luteiniseerivat, also known as luteinizing hormone (LH), is a gonadotropic hormone produced and secreted by the anterior pituitary gland in both males and females. Its primary function is to regulate the reproductive processes in the body. In females, LH plays a crucial role in the menstrual cycle. Around the middle of the cycle, a surge in LH triggers ovulation, the release of a mature egg from the ovary. Following ovulation, LH stimulates the corpus luteum, a temporary endocrine structure that forms in the ovary after ovulation, to produce progesterone.

In males, LH acts on the Leydig cells in the testes, stimulating them to produce androgens, the most important of which is testosterone. Testosterone is essential for the development and maintenance of male reproductive tissues, as well as secondary sexual characteristics. The secretion of LH is regulated by gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus and is subject to feedback mechanisms involving gonadal steroids like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Measuring LH levels can be useful in diagnosing various reproductive disorders, including infertility, hypogonadism, and conditions related to pituitary or hypothalamic dysfunction.