Endocrinology · 1941 · 144 citations · 0 references
MedicineEndocrinologyPhysiologyReproductive BiologyReproductive EndocrinologyReproductive PhysiologyEndocrine Regulation Of ReproductionGonadal HormonesHormonal Regulation Of ReproductionOvarian PhysiologyPituitary Gland FunctionPituitary HormonesCorpus Luteum PhysiologyCorpus Luteum RegulationEstrous Cycle PhasesEstrous Cycle RegulationLuteal Phase RegulationLuteinizing Hormone SecretionOvarian Cycle RegulationOvarian Hormones
SINCE the original discovery of the fact that gonadal development is influenced by two hypophysial hormones, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) (1, 2, 3), ample evidence has been accumulated to show that these two substances are separate and distinct (4–7). The periodic secretion of these two substances by the pituitary is modified in part by the ovarian hormones, and on the basis of these pituitaryovarian interactions various theories concerning the control of the estrous cycle have been advanced. A number of questions concerning these interactions remain unanswered, and in particular no satisfactory mechanism has been suggested for the control of the luteal phase of the cycle or pseudopregnancy. The recent finding that progesterone effectively blocks the release of luteinizing hormone from the pituitary (8, 9, 10), taken together with certain other considerations, led to the suggestion (10) that while LH is responsible for the conversion of follicles into corpora lutea, a third hypophysial gonadotropic factor is concerned with luteal function.