Which hormones stimulate the gonadal response during puberty?

Which hormones stimulate the gonadal response during puberty?

• A. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone
• B. Follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone
• C. Estrogen and progesterone
• D. Prolactin

Answer: (B)

Puberty’s gonadal activation is driven by the pituitary gonadotropins, released in response to pulsatile GnRH from the hypothalamus. The hormones that directly stimulate the gonads are FSH and LH. FSH promotes gamete development and supports the gonadal supporting cells (Sertoli cells in males, granulosa cells in females), while LH stimulates the gonads to produce sex steroids—testosterone in males and estrogen, along with progesterone after ovulation in females. These gonadal hormones then drive the physical and hormonal changes of puberty. GnRH acts upstream to trigger FSH and LH release, not directly the gonads; estrogen and progesterone are products of the gonads after stimulation, and prolactin is not the primary driver of pubertal gonadal activation.

Puberty’s gonadal activation is driven by the pituitary gonadotropins, released in response to pulsatile GnRH from the hypothalamus. The hormones that directly stimulate the gonads are FSH and LH. FSH promotes gamete development and supports the gonadal supporting cells (Sertoli cells in males, granulosa cells in females), while LH stimulates the gonads to produce sex steroids—testosterone in males and estrogen, along with progesterone after ovulation in females. These gonadal hormones then drive the physical and hormonal changes of puberty. GnRH acts upstream to trigger FSH and LH release, not directly the gonads; estrogen and progesterone are products of the gonads after stimulation, and prolactin is not the primary driver of pubertal gonadal activation.