1. Explain the role of FSH and

1. In both male and female reproductive system, the cycles arecontrolled by the hormonal interaction from the hypothalamus andanterior pituitary. When this reproductive hormone is required, thehypothalamus sends a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) to theanterior pituitary causing the release of follicle stimulatinghormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) from the anteriorpituitary into the blood.

In the male reproductive system – during the onset of puberty,the hypothalamus for the first time causes the release of FSH andLH. FSH enters the testes and stimulates the Sertoli cells whichbegin to facilitates spermatogenesis. LH also enters the testes andstimulates the interstitial cells of Leydig which makes andreleases testosterone into the testes and the blood. Testosteroneis the hormone which is responsible for the secondary sexualcharacteristics in the male.

In the female reproductive system – The anterior pituitaryhormone causes the release of the hormones FSH and LH. FSHstimulates the development of egg cells, called ova, which furtherdevelops into follicles.LH also stimulates the development of ova(egg cell), induction of ovulation, and also stimulates theproduction of estradiol and progesterone by the ovaries. The firsthalf phase of the ovarian cycle is the follicular phase, whereslowly rising levels of FSH and LH causes the follicle to grow onthe surface of the ovary. This process prepares the egg forovulation. In ovulation, FSH and LH stimulate the maturation of oneof the growing follicles. The second phase is the luteal phase,where LH stimulates the growth of corpus luteum from the folliculartissue.