The role of LH in follicle development: from physiology to new clinical implications
Abstract The process of follicle development is closely regulated by two pituitary gonadotropins: follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Traditionally, folliculogenesis is considered to be divided into a gonadotropin-independent phase and a gonadotropin-dependent phase. Des...
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BMC
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-025-01353-8 |
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| author | Maria Longo Francesca Liuzzi Serena De Carlini Antonio La Marca |
| author_facet | Maria Longo Francesca Liuzzi Serena De Carlini Antonio La Marca |
| author_sort | Maria Longo |
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| description | Abstract The process of follicle development is closely regulated by two pituitary gonadotropins: follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Traditionally, folliculogenesis is considered to be divided into a gonadotropin-independent phase and a gonadotropin-dependent phase. Despite this, recent evidence has demonstrated that functional LH receptors are expressed even in smaller follicles during the phase considered to be gonadotropin independent. Luteinizing hormone promotes androgen synthesis within ovarian follicles and seems to significantly contribute to accelerate and enhance the transition from the primordial to the antral stage of folliculogenesis. Thus, LH could play a fundamental role in determining the number of recruitable antral follicles, with a direct impact on the cyclic recruitment of follicles and reproductive potential. Common clinical conditions of pituitary suppression such as hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, other than pregnancy and combined oral contraceptive use, have been considered to analyze the effect of lower serum LH levels on the functional ovarian reserve. This review outlines recent findings on the mechanisms of human follicle development, based on human and animal models, with a direct focus on possible new clinical applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1ff6b5225d3c4275bee50dae6f08d9a9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1477-7827 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology |
| spelling | doaj-art-1ff6b5225d3c4275bee50dae6f08d9a92025-08-20T03:54:00ZengBMCReproductive Biology and Endocrinology1477-78272025-02-0123S11910.1186/s12958-025-01353-8The role of LH in follicle development: from physiology to new clinical implicationsMaria Longo0Francesca Liuzzi1Serena De Carlini2Antonio La Marca3Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children and Adults, University of Modena and Reggio EmiliaDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children and Adults, University of Modena and Reggio EmiliaDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children and Adults, University of Modena and Reggio EmiliaDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children and Adults, University of Modena and Reggio EmiliaAbstract The process of follicle development is closely regulated by two pituitary gonadotropins: follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Traditionally, folliculogenesis is considered to be divided into a gonadotropin-independent phase and a gonadotropin-dependent phase. Despite this, recent evidence has demonstrated that functional LH receptors are expressed even in smaller follicles during the phase considered to be gonadotropin independent. Luteinizing hormone promotes androgen synthesis within ovarian follicles and seems to significantly contribute to accelerate and enhance the transition from the primordial to the antral stage of folliculogenesis. Thus, LH could play a fundamental role in determining the number of recruitable antral follicles, with a direct impact on the cyclic recruitment of follicles and reproductive potential. Common clinical conditions of pituitary suppression such as hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, other than pregnancy and combined oral contraceptive use, have been considered to analyze the effect of lower serum LH levels on the functional ovarian reserve. This review outlines recent findings on the mechanisms of human follicle development, based on human and animal models, with a direct focus on possible new clinical applications.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-025-01353-8Luteinizing hormoneAnti-Müllerian hormoneAntral follicle countFolliculogenesisGonadotropins |
| spellingShingle | Maria Longo Francesca Liuzzi Serena De Carlini Antonio La Marca The role of LH in follicle development: from physiology to new clinical implications Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology Luteinizing hormone Anti-Müllerian hormone Antral follicle count Folliculogenesis Gonadotropins |
| title | The role of LH in follicle development: from physiology to new clinical implications |
| title_full | The role of LH in follicle development: from physiology to new clinical implications |
| title_fullStr | The role of LH in follicle development: from physiology to new clinical implications |
| title_full_unstemmed | The role of LH in follicle development: from physiology to new clinical implications |
| title_short | The role of LH in follicle development: from physiology to new clinical implications |
| title_sort | role of lh in follicle development from physiology to new clinical implications |
| topic | Luteinizing hormone Anti-Müllerian hormone Antral follicle count Folliculogenesis Gonadotropins |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-025-01353-8 |
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