PeptideHormone

Luteinizing hormoneLH

Triggers ovulation and gonadal steroidogenesis.

EndogenousEstablished

Identity

Class
Glycoprotein hormone (α/β heterodimer)
Source
Anterior pituitary gonadotrophs
Receptor
LH/choriogonadotropin receptor (LHCGR)

Key properties

Molecular weight
≈ 30,000 Da
Half-life (native)
~20 min
Model dosing

Approximate values for the native hormone. Engineered analogs are often deliberately larger and far longer-acting.

Mechanism

Driven by GnRH pulses, LH triggers ovulation in females and stimulates gonadal steroid (testosterone, estrogen) production in both sexes. It shares an alpha subunit with FSH, TSH, and hCG; its beta subunit confers specificity.

Reference notes

  • LH and hCG act on the same receptor (LHCGR), so hCG can substitute for an LH signal.
  • The glycoprotein hormones share an alpha subunit; the beta subunit sets identity.
  • The mid-cycle LH surge is the immediate trigger for ovulation.

Selected literature

Curated peer-reviewed reviews, sourced from PubMed. Selected for relevance, not exhaustive — open any entry on PubMed for the full record and its primary citations.

  1. 1.The Roles of Luteinizing Hormone, Follicle-Stimulating Hormone and Testosterone in Spermatogenesis and Folliculogenesis Revisited · International journal of molecular sciences, 2021 · PMID 34884539
  2. 2.A Comprehensive Review of Estradiol, Progesterone, Luteinizing Hormone, and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone in the Context of Laboratory Medicine to Support Women's Health · Clinical chemistry, 2025 · PMID 40247783