gonadotropiinikäynnistävää

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), also known as gonadotropinikäynnistävä in Finnish, is a small protein hormone produced by the hypothalamus, a part of the brain. Its primary function is to stimulate the pituitary gland to release two other hormones: luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).

LH and FSH are essential for the regulation of reproductive processes in humans and other animals. LH stimulates the production of sex hormones, such as testosterone in males and estrogen in females, while FSH is involved in the growth and maturation of reproductive cells.

GnRH is released from the hypothalamus in a pulsatile manner, meaning it is released in short bursts rather than continuously. This releases LH and FSH from the pituitary gland, which then triggers a cascade of events in the body to regulate reproduction. GnRH has a short half-life and is rapidly degraded, which means it must be constantly replaced by new GnRH molecules to maintain its effects.

Dysregulation of GnRH can lead to reproductive disorders, such as infertility, irregular menstrual cycles, and reproductive cancers. GnRH agonists, which are synthetic versions of GnRH, are often used in medical treatments to regulate fertility and to treat hormone-sensitive cancers.

In some contexts, the term gonadotropinikäynnistävä is used specifically to refer to GnRH, particularly in Finnish-speaking communities. However, the term GnRH is widely used in scientific and medical contexts and is generally preferred.