Which hormones directly stimulate the gonadal glands to produce sex steroids?

Which hormones directly stimulate the gonadal glands to produce sex steroids?

• A. GnRH
• B. FSH and LH
• C. Estrogen and Testosterone
• D. LH only

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that the gonads respond to signals from the pituitary, called gonadotropins. The hormones that directly stimulate the gonadal glands to produce sex steroids are FSH and LH. GnRH from the hypothalamus prompts the pituitary to release these two gonadotropins, but GnRH itself doesn’t act on the gonads. In the testes, LH acts on Leydig cells to make testosterone, while FSH supports Sertoli cells and the overall environment for steroid production. In the ovaries, LH stimulates theca cells to produce androgens, which granulosa cells convert to estrogens under the influence of FSH, with FSH also boosting estrogen synthesis. So, the direct drivers of gonadal steroid production are the paired gonadotropins, not the steroids themselves or GnRH alone.

The key idea is that the gonads respond to signals from the pituitary, called gonadotropins. The hormones that directly stimulate the gonadal glands to produce sex steroids are FSH and LH. GnRH from the hypothalamus prompts the pituitary to release these two gonadotropins, but GnRH itself doesn’t act on the gonads. In the testes, LH acts on Leydig cells to make testosterone, while FSH supports Sertoli cells and the overall environment for steroid production. In the ovaries, LH stimulates theca cells to produce androgens, which granulosa cells convert to estrogens under the influence of FSH, with FSH also boosting estrogen synthesis. So, the direct drivers of gonadal steroid production are the paired gonadotropins, not the steroids themselves or GnRH alone.