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Biosynthesis and Secretion of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone^*

SCOTT C. CHAPPEL, ALFREDO ULLOA-AGUIRRE and CHRISTOS COUTIFARIS

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104

Abstract

THE ANTERIOR pituitary gland synthesizes and secretes three glycoprotein hormones. Two of these, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) are termed gonadotropins and exert divergent effects upon the gonads to regulate and maintain essential reproductive processes such as gametogenesis, steroidogenesis, and ovulation. We possess a basic understanding of the role played by both gonadotropins in a wide variety of physiological processes associated with reproduction. This review is intended to provide a concise body of information regarding the biological processes associated with the biosynthesis and secretion of FSH. Since both gonadotropins appear to be synthesized by the same cell in the anterior pituitary gland (1, 2) and the biosynthetic and secretory processes are influenced by the same hypothalamic hormone, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) (3), this review will consider a great deal of information obtained from the study of both gonadotropins. However the primary focus will be the biochemical, physiological, and neuroendocrine studies relative to FSH.

Footnotes

^* Studies in the author's laboratory were supported by the NIH (HD 14742-01).

To whom reprint requests should be addressed.

Current address: Dept. Biologia de la Reproduccion, Instituto Nacional de la Nutricion, Vasco de Quiroga 15, Col. Tlalpan, Mexico DF 14000.

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