What Are The Pituitary Gland Hormones?

Follicle-Stimulating Hormone

Follicle-stimulating hormone is a hormone the pituitary gland produces for the functional regulation of an individual's testes or ovaries. Follicle-stimulating hormone is considered a gonadotrophic hormone along with luteinizing hormone. In females, follicle-stimulating hormone promotes the growth of structures in the ovary called the ovarian follicles before one follicle releases an egg for ovulation. Follicle-stimulating hormone in females also increases the production of estradiol. In men, this hormone promotes the production of sperm, a process referred to as spermatogenesis. Follicle-stimulating hormone does this by acting on the cells in the testes called Sertoli cells, which facilitate the growth and differentiation of germ cells to spermatozoa. The hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis is the system that regulates the production and release of follicle-stimulating hormone from the pituitary gland. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone and levels of estradiol are associated with this system in females, where testosterone levels, inhibin, and gonadotropin-releasing hormone are associated with this system in males.