Definition

Noun: A gonadotropic hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland. In females, it stimulates ovulation and the development of the corpus luteum. In males, it stimulates the Leydig cells of the testes to produce androgens, primarily testosterone.

Usage and Examples

Noun: * The surge of luteinizing hormone triggers the release of an egg from the ovary. * In fertility treatments, doctors monitor luteinizing hormone levels to predict ovulation. * Luteinizing hormone is essential for regulating the menstrual cycle and testosterone production.

Advanced Usage

• LH Surge: The sharp, mid-cycle increase in luteinizing hormone that induces ovulation.
  • The ovulation test kit detects the LH surge in urine.
• LH/FSH Ratio: The ratio of luteinizing hormone to follicle-stimulating hormone, often assessed in diagnosing reproductive disorders.
  • An elevated LH/FSH ratio can be indicative of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Variants and Related Words

• LH: The common abbreviation for luteinizing hormone.
  • Blood tests showed her LH levels were within the normal range.
• Gonadotropin: The class of hormones to which luteinizing hormone belongs, which act on the gonads (ovaries and testes).
• Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone (LHRH): Also known as Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH), this is the hormone from the hypothalamus that stimulates the pituitary to release LH.

Synonyms

• Interstitial Cell-Stimulating Hormone (ICSH): An older, synonymous term for luteinizing hormone, particularly emphasizing its role in stimulating the interstitial (Leydig) cells in the male testes.

Related Compounds and Phrases

• Luteinizing Hormone Receptor: The specific receptor on target cells (e.g., ovarian theca cells, testicular Leydig cells) that binds LH to initiate its biological effects.

Noun

1. a gonadotropic hormone that is secreted by the anterior pituitary; stimulates ovulation in female mammals and stimulates androgen release in male mammals