Summary of Reproductive Hormones

Biochemical classification: neuropeptide (decapeptide)

Source: Hypothalamic surge and tonic centers

Male Target Tissue: Anterior lobe-pituitary (gonadotroph cells)

Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH)

Biochemical classification: glycoprotein

Source: anterior lobe (pituitary) (gonadotroph cells)

Male Target Tissue: testis (interstitial cells of Leydig)

Luteinizing Hormone (LH)

Biochemical classification: glycoprotein

Source: anterior lobe-pituitary (gonadotroph cells)

Male Target Tissue: testis (sertoli cells)

follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)

Biochemical classification: protein

Source: anterior lobe-pituitary (lactotroph cells)

Male Target Tissue: testis and brain

prolactin

Biochemical classification: Neuropeptide (octapeptide)

Source: synthesized in the hypothalamus, stored in the posterior lobe-pituitary; synthesized by corpus luteum

Male Target Tissue: smooth muscle of epididymal tail, ductus deferens and ampulla

oxytocin (OT)

Biochemical classification: steroid

Source: granulosal cells of follicle, placenta, Sertoli cells of testis

Male Target Tissue: brain, inhibits long bone growth

Estradiol (E2)

Biochemical classification: Steroid

Source: Corpus luteum and placenta

Male Target Tissue:

progesterone (P)

Biochemical classification: Steroid

Source: Interstitial cells of Leydig, cells of theca interna in female

Male Target Tissue: Accessory sex glands tunica dartos of scrotum, seminiferous epithelium, skeletal muscle

Testosterone (T)

Biochemical classification: Glycoprotein

Source: Granulosal cells (female), Sertoli cells (male)

Male Target Tissue: Gonadotrophs of anterior lobe-pituitary

Inhibin

Biochemical classification: Glycoprotein

Source: Placental cells (human female), granulosal cells (female), Sertoli cells (male)

Male Target Tissue: Gonadotrophs of anterior lobe-pituitary

Activin

Biochemical classification: Prostaglandin (C-20 fatty acid)

Source: Uterine endometrium, vesicular glands

Male Target Tissue: Epididymis

Prostaglandin F2a (PGF2a)

Biochemical classification: Prostaglandin (C-20 fatty acid)

Source: ovary, uterus, embryonic membranes

Male Target Tissue:

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)

Biochemical classification: glycoprotein

Source: trophoblast of blastocyst (chorion)

Male Target Tissue:

human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)

Biochemical classification: Glycoprotein

Source: Chorionic girdle cells

Male Target Tissue:

equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG)

Biochemical classification: protein

Source: placenta

Male Target Tissue:

placental lactogen

What female target tissue?

Male primary action: release of FSH and LH from anterior lobe-pituitary

Female primary action: release of FSH and LH from anterior lobe-pituitary

Anterior lobe-pituitary (gonadotroph cells)

What female target tissue?

Male primary action: stimulates testosterone production

Female primary action stimulates ovulation, formation of corpora lutea and progesterone secretion

Ovary (cells of theca interna and luteal cells)

What female target tissue?

Male primary action: Sertoli cell function

Female primary action: Follicular development and estradiol synthesis

Ovary (granulosal cells)

What female target tissue?

Male primary action: can induce maternal behavior in females and males

Female primary action: lactation, maternal behavior and corpora lutea function (some species)

Mammary cells, corpus luteum in some species (rat and mouse)

What female target tissue?

Male primary action: PGF2a synthesis and pre-ejaculatory movement of spermatozoa

Female primary action: uterine motility, promotes uterine PGF 2a synthesis, milk ejection

Myometrium and endometrium of uterus, myoepithelial cells of mammary gland

What female target tissue?

Male primary action: sexual behavior

Female primary action: Sexual behavior, GnRH, elevated secretory activity of the entire tract, enhanced uterine motility

Hypothalamus, entire reproductive tract and mammary gland

What female target tissue?

Male primary action:

Female primary action: Endometrial secretion, inhibits GnRH release, inhibits reproductive behavior, promotes maintenance of pregnancy

Uterine endometrium, mammary gland, myometrium, hypothalamus

What female target tissue?

Male primary action: Anabolic growth, promotes spermatogenesis, promotes secretion of accessory sex glands

Female primary action: Substrate for E2 synthesis, abnormal masculinization (hair patterns, voice, behavior, etc.)

Brain, skeletal muscle, granulosal cells

What female target tissue?

Male primary action: inhibits FSH secretion

Female primary action: inhibits FSH secretion

gonadotrophs of anterior lobe-pituitary

What female target tissue?

Male primary action: stimulates FSH secretion

Female primary action: stimulates FSH secretion

Gonadotrophs of anterior lobe-pituitary

What female target tissue?

Male primary action: Affects metabolic activity of spermatozoa, causes epididymal contractions

Female primary action: Luteolysis, promotes uterine tone and contraction, ovulation

Corpus luteum, uterine myometrium, ovulatory follicles

What female target tissue?

Male primary action:

Female primary action: Ovulation, stimulates corpus luteum secretion of progesterone

corpus luteum, oviduct

What female target tissue?

Male primary action: increase growth of fetal testis

Female primary action: facilitate production of progesterone by ovary

ovary

What female target tissue?

Male primary action:

Female primary action: causes formation of accessory corpora lutea

ovary

What female target tissue?

Male primary action:

Female primary action: mammary stimulation of dam

mammary gland of dam