Sex hormones are steroid hormones released from gonad and
function to enhance reproductive process or stimulate development
of secondary sexual characteristics of an individual.
Testosterone is a male sex hormone.
Hypothalamus releases a regulatory
hormone called gonadotropin releasing hormone
(GnRH) that acts on anterior pituitay gland.
GnRH stimulates anterior pituitary to release
a tropic hormone called luteinizing hormone
(LH).
LH binds to its receptors on interstital cells
(Leydig's cells) in the testes. LH stimulates release of
sex hormone testosterone into the
bloodstream.
As the level of testosterone increase in blood, a
negative feedback mechanism triggers hypothalamus
to inhibit production of GnRH as well as anterior
pituitary gland to inhibit production of LH.
This negative feedback helps in maintaning levels of
testosterone in normal range.