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Review
. 2022 Oct:66:102274.
doi: 10.1016/j.coph.2022.102274. Epub 2022 Aug 19.

Pituitary gonadotroph-specific patterns of gene expression and hormone secretion

Stephanie Constantin  1 , Ivana Bjelobaba  2 , Stanko S Stojilkovic  3
Affiliations
Review

Pituitary gonadotroph-specific patterns of gene expression and hormone secretion

Stephanie Constantin et al. Curr Opin Pharmacol. 2022 Oct.

Abstract

Pituitary gonadotrophs play a key role in reproductive functions by secreting luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). The LH secretory activity of gonadotroph is controlled by hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) via GnRH receptors and is accompanied by only minor effects on high basal Lhb gene expression. The secretory profiles of GnRH and LH are highly synchronized, with the latter reflecting a depletion of prestored LH in secretory vesicles by regulated exocytosis. In contrast, FSH is predominantly released by constitutive exocytosis, and secretory activity reflects the kinetics of Fshb gene expression controlled by GnRH, activin, and inhibin. Here is a review of recent data to improve the understanding of multiple patterns of gonadotroph gene expression and hormone secretion.

Keywords: FSH; GnRH; LH; activin; gonadotrophs; inhibin; pituitary.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of competing interest Authors have nothing to declare.

Figures

None
Schematic representation of gene expression and hormone secretion in pituitary gonadotrophs.
GnRH directly controls LH secretion through regulated calcium-dependent exocytosis and has a minor stimulatory and inhibitory effect on high basal Lhb expression. GnRH dependent and independent Lhb expression is necessary to provide sufficient pre-stored LH to respond to pulsatile and surge GnRH release. In contrast, FSH secretion reflects the expression status of Fshb, which is determined by GnRH and activin/inhibin; hormone is released predominantly through constitutive exocytosis. Therefore, the kinetics of Fshb expression define the pattern of FSH secretion. Cga expression is stimulated but not inhibited by GnRH, making this subunit unlimiting component in dimer formations.
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