Question

Which one of the following pairs correctly matches a hormone with a disease resulting from its deficiency?

(a) Luteinizing hormone – Failure of ovulation

(b) Insulin – Diabetes insipidus

(c) Thyroxine – Tetany

(d) Parathyroid hormone – Diabetes mellitus.

Answer 1

(a) Luteinizing hormone – Failure of ovulation

In the female, LH stimulates the ovary to secrete estradiol, progesterone, and androgens in a cyclic manner and serves as the signal for ovulation. In the first half of the cycle (the follicular phase), LH primarily stimulates theca cells to produce androgens. These androgens are aromatized to estradiol in the granulosa cells of the maturing ovarian follicle under the influence of FSH. At mid cycle, estradiol has a positive feed-back effect on the hypothalamus, which triggers a dramatic spike in the release of LH. This LH surge initiates ovulation and the conversion of the mature follicle into the corpus luteum, which then produces progesterone primarily under the influence of LH.