Luteinizing hormone (LH, also known as luteinising hormone,[1]lutropin and sometimes lutrophin[2]) is a hormone produced by gonadotropic cells in the anterior pituitary gland. The production of LH is regulated by gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus.[3] In females, an acute rise of LH known as an LH surge, triggers ovulation[4] and development of the corpus luteum. In males, where LH had also been called interstitial cell–stimulating hormone (ICSH),[5] it stimulates Leydig cell production of testosterone.[4] It acts synergistically with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).
^Louvet JP, Harman SM, Ross GT (May 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): 1179–1186. doi:10.1210/endo-96-5-1179. PMID1122882.