= Follicle-stimulating hormone
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<Follicle-stimulating hormone> is a <glycoprotein> <gonadotropin> released by <gonadotrophs> in the <anterior pituitary>. It supports <ovarian follicle> growth and acts on <granulosa cells> in the <ovary (anatomy)> and <Sertoli cells> in the <testis>. Its effects depend on target-cell <receptors>, not solely on the amount of circulating <hormone>.<Anatomy and Physiology 2e by J. Gordon Betts and others>[§17.3, pituitary hormone summary and follicular growth]{ref}<Follicle stimulating hormone is required for ovarian follicle maturation but not male fertility by T. R. Kumar and others>[Abstract, receptor-bearing target cells]{ref}
A 1997 experiment disrupted the <gene> encoding the hormone's <FSH beta subunit>, producing mice deficient in <follicle-stimulating hormone>. Female mice were infertile, with follicle development blocked before antral follicle formation. Males remained fertile despite smaller testes.<Follicle stimulating hormone is required for ovarian follicle maturation but not male fertility by T. R. Kumar and others>[Abstract, targeted deficiency and contrasting reproductive outcomes]{ref}
The contrast separates several outcomes that a single word like “fertility” can obscure. It demonstrates that loss of the same hormonal signal can affect ovarian development, testicular size and successful reproduction differently in this mouse model. Those endpoints must be measured separately rather than inferred from one another.
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