Luteinizing hormone

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Chorionic gonadotropin alpha
Symbol CGA
Alt. symbols HCG, GPHa, GPHA1
Entrez 1081
HUGO 1885
OMIM 118850
RefSeq NM_000735
UniProt P01215
Other data
Locus Chr. 6 q14-q21
Luteinizing hormone beta polypeptide
Figure 28 03 01.jpg
Effects of LH on the body
Symbol LHB
Entrez 3972
HUGO 6584
OMIM 152780
RefSeq NM_000894
UniProt P01229
Other data
Locus Chr. 19 q13.3

Luteinizing hormone (LH, also known as lutropin[1] and sometimes lutrophin[2]) is a hormone produced by gonadotroph cells in the anterior pituitary gland. In females, an acute rise of LH ("LH surge") triggers ovulation[3] and development of the corpus luteum. In males, where LH had also been called interstitial cell-stimulating hormone (ICSH),[4] it stimulates Leydig cell production of testosterone.[3] It acts synergistically with FSH.






Reference ranges for the blood content of luteinizing hormone (LH) during the menstrual cycle. * The ranges denoted By biological stage may be used in closely monitored menstrual cycles in regard to other markers of its biological progression, with the time scale being compressed or stretched to how much faster or slower, respectively, the cycle progresses compared to an average cycle. * The ranges denoted Inter-cycle variability are more appropriate to use in non-monitored cycles with only the beginning of menstruation known, but where the woman accurately knows her average cycle lengths and time of ovulation, and that they are somewhat averagely regular, with the time scale being compressed or stretched to how much a woman's average cycle length is shorter or longer, respectively, than the average of the population. * The ranges denoted Inter-woman variability are more appropriate to use when the average cycle lengths and time of ovulation are unknown, but only the beginning of menstruation is given.


The gene for the alpha subunit is located on chromosome 6q12.21.



In both males and females, LH is essential for reproduction.

  • In females, LH supports theca cells in the ovaries that provide androgens and hormonal precursors for estradiol production. At the time of menstruation, FSH initiates follicular growth, specifically affecting granulosa cells.[6] With the rise in estrogens, LH receptors are also expressed on the maturing follicle, which causes it to produce more estradiol. Eventually, when the follicle has fully matured, a spike in 17-hydroxyprogesterone production by the follicle inhibits the production of estrogen, leading to a decrease in estrogen-mediated negative feedback of GnRH in the hypothalamus, which then stimulates the release of LH from the anterior pituitary.[7] However another theory of the LH peak is a positive feedback mechanism from estradiol. The levels keep rising through the follicular phase and when they reach an unknown threshold, this results in the peak of the LH.[8] This effect is opposite from the usual negative feedback mechanism presented at lower levels. In other words the mechanism(s) are not yet clear.


  • In males, LH acts upon the Leydig cells of the testis and is regulated by GnRH.[9] The Leydig cells produce testosterone (T) under the control of LH, which regulates the expression of the enzyme 17-β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase that is used to convert androstenedione, the hormone produced by the gonads, to testosterone,[10] an androgen that exerts both endocrine activity and intratesticular activity on spermatogenesis.

LH is released from the pituitary gland, and is controlled by pulses of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). When T levels are low, GnRH is released by the hypothalamus, stimulating the pituitary gland to release LH.[11] As the levels of T increase, it will act on the hypothalamus and pituitary through a negative feedback loop and inhibit the release of GnRH and LH consequently.[12] Androgens (T, DHT) inhibit monoamine oxidase (MOA) in pineal, leading to increased melatonin and reduced LH & FSH by melatonin-induced increase of GnIH synthesis and secretion. T can also be aromatized into Estradiol (E2) in order to inhibit LH. E2 decreases pulse amplitude and responsiveness to GnRH from the hypothalamus onto the pituitary.[13]



Normal levels[edit]

LH levels are normally low during childhood and, in women, high after menopause. As LH is secreted as pulses, it is necessary to follow its concentration over a sufficient period of time to get a proper information about its blood level.

During the reproductive years, typical levels are between 1-20 IU/L. Physiologic high LH levels are seen during the LH surge (v.s.); typically they last 48 hours.

In males over 18 years of age, reference ranges have been estimated to be 1.8-8.6 IU/L.[16]

LH is measured in International Units (IU). For Human Urinary LH, one IU is defined as the amount of LH that has an activity corresponding to 0.13369 mg of pure Human Urinary LH.[17]


Predicting ovulation[edit]

The detection of a surge in release of luteinizing hormone indicates impending ovulation. LH can be detected by urinary ovulation predictor kits (OPK, also LH-kit) that are performed, typically daily, around the time ovulation may be expected.[18] A conversion from a negative to a positive reading would suggest that ovulation is about to occur within 24–48 hours, giving women two days to engage in sexual intercourse or artificial insemination with the intentions of conceiving.[19]





Disease states[edit]

Relative elevations[edit]


During the reproductive years, relatively elevated LH is frequently seen in patients with the polycystic ovary syndrome; however, it would be unusual for them to have LH levels outside of the normal reproductive range.

High LH levels[edit]


  1. Premature menopause
  2. Gonadal dysgenesis, Turner syndrome
  3. Castration
  4. Swyer syndrome
  5. Polycystic ovary syndrome
  6. Certain forms of congenital adrenal hyperplasia
  7. Testicular failure

Deficient LH activity[edit]


  1. Kallmann syndrome
  2. Hypothalamic suppression
  3. Hypopituitarism
  4. Eating disorder
  5. Female athlete triad
  6. Hyperprolactinemia
  7. Hypogonadism
  8. Gonadal suppression therapy
    1. GnRH antagonist





  1. ^ lutropin at eMedicine Dictionary
  2. ^ "Subunit-specific sulphation of oligosaccharides relating to chargeheterogeneity in porcine lutrophin isoforms". Oxford Journals. 1 February 1992. Retrieved 17 May 2012. 
  3. ^ a b Physiology at MCG 5/5ch9/s5ch9_5
  4. ^ Louvet J, Harman S, Ross G (1975). "Effects of human chorionic gonadotropin, human interstitial cell stimulating hormone and human follicle-stimulating hormone on ovarian weights in estrogen-primed hypophysectomized immature female rats". Endocrinology 96 (5): 1179–86. doi:10.1210/endo-96-5-1179. PMID 1122882. 
  5. ^ Jiang X, Dias JA, He X (Aug 2013). "Structural biology of glycoprotein hormones and their receptors: Insights to signaling". Mol Cell Endocrinol 382 (1): 424–51. doi:10.1016/j.mce.2013.08.021. PMID 24001578. 
  7. ^ Mahesh, V. B. (25 October 2011). "Hirsutism, virilism, polycystic ovarian disease, and the steroid-gonadotropin-feedback system: a career retrospective". AJP: Endocrinology and Metabolism 302 (1): E4-E18. doi:10.1152/ajpendo.00488.2011. PMC 3328092. PMID 22028409. 
  8. ^ Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology 2006 page 1021
  9. ^ Retrieved 20 November 2013.  Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. ^ Retrieved 20 November 2013.  Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. ^ Retrieved 20 November 2013.  Missing or empty |title= (help)
  12. ^ Retrieved 20 November 2013.  Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. ^ . March 2008 Retrieved 12 November 2013.  Missing or empty |title= (help)
  14. ^ Template:Cite text = Norris, David O.; Carr, James A. (2013-05-04). Vertebrate Endocrinology. Elsevier Science.
  15. ^ Stoleru, S. (1993). "LH pulsatile secretion and testosterone blood levels are influenced by sexual arousal in human males". Psyconeuroendocrinology. Retrieved 12 November 2012. 
  16. ^ Mayo Medical Laboratories > Test ID: LH, Luteinizing Hormone (LH), Serum, retrieved December 2012
  18. ^ Nielsen M, Barton S, Hatasaka H, Stanford J (2001). "Comparison of several one-step home urinary luteinizing hormone detection test kits to OvuQuick". Fertil Steril 76 (2): 384–7. doi:10.1016/S0015-0282(01)01881-7. PMID 11476792. 
  19. ^ "Ovulation Predictor Kit Frequently Asked Questions". Fertility Plus. Retrieved 12 March 2012. 
  20. ^ "How to Get Pregnant". 2009. Retrieved 12 March 2012. 
  21. ^ Luveris information

External links[edit]