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Follicle Stimulating Hormone and Reproductive Aging
Author(s) -
Pardue Avery,
Dvoretz Illay,
Wright Collette,
Custard Alaura,
Barbara Ella,
Langat Diana
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.935.3
Subject(s) - medicine , endocrinology , gonadotropic cell , luteinizing hormone , follicle stimulating hormone , biology , corpus luteum , testosterone (patch) , follicle stimulating hormone receptor , gonadotropin , anterior pituitary , gonadotropin releasing hormone , hormone , chemistry
Follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) is a member of the glycoprotein hormone (GPH) family. It is secreted by gonadotropes, which are found in the anterior pituitary gland. FSH is an important hormone for the production and development of gametes in both men and women. The hormone is a part of a cascade that begins with the release of gonadotropin‐releasing hormone that is released from the hypothalamus and stimulates gonadotropes in the pituitary gland. These stimulated gonadotropes release FSH and the luteinizing hormone (LH) into the bloodstream where they travel through the bloodstream to the gonads. In males, FSH stimulate the Sertoli cells to produce a ABP, or androgen‐binding protein, and inhibin. ABP keeps testicular testosterone concentrations elevated for spermatogenesis, while inhibin feeds back to the anterior pituitary to cease production of FSH. LH stimulates testicular Leydig cells to synthesize and secrete testosterone. In females, FSH stimulates ovarian follicular granulosa cells to continue to grow and divide, secrete estradiol, and become responsive to LH stimulation. LH stimulates ovarian theca cells to produce the androgen precursor converted to estradiol by granulosa cells. The LH surge triggers ovulation and LH stimulates progesterone synthesis and release by the corpus luteum during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. FSH binds to the FSH receptor (FSHR) to stimulate cellular responses. The FSHR is a G protein‐coupled receptor (GPCR) that possesses an exceptionally large N‐terminal ectodomain composed of leucine‐rich repeats. Glycoprotein hormones, which FSH is member, are identified by a common alpha‐ and hormone‐specific beta‐subunit heterodimeric structure. The alpha‐subunit peptide sequence and disulfide bond pattern are consistent throughout all glycoprotein hormones. The beta‐subunit is what dictates the function of the hormone and dictates binding to the cognate receptor. The alpha and beta subunits are folded into non‐globular, cystine knot structures with three loops extending from the core motif, which consists of three disulfide bridges. An additional peptide emerges from the beta subunit and wraps around the L2 loop of the alpha subunit in a manner similar to a seatbelt. The seatbelt loop possesses the hormone‐specific determinants of the FSH beta‐subunit. FSH binds to the FSHR. Current research is focused on the effect of FSH glycosylation variations on the activation of the receptor. Support or Funding Information This is a SMART Team project supported through the contributions of Dr. George R. Bousfield of Wichita State University, the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and the Olathe Medical Professions 21st Century Academy.