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Ovarian Hormones: Structure, Biosynthesis, Function, Mechanism of Action, and Laboratory Diagnosis

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Clinical Reproductive Medicine and Surgery

Abstract

The ovary is a dynamic endocrine organ. The follicle cells interact in a highly integrated manner to produce several steroid and peptide hormones. Steroidogenesis requires effectual delivery, uptake, and use of sterol by an array of steroidogenic enzymes. Steroid hormones play a central role in the reproductive system. Physiological effects of steroid hormones are mediated via their nuclear receptors that belong to a superfamily of ligand-dependent transcription factors. The two isoforms of ER and PR (α and β) are differentially expressed in different tissues, leading to tissue-specific responses. Furthermore, the differences in gene expression depend on interactions with protein cofactors, the coactivators, and corepressors. A better understanding of the effect that the cell environment has on nuclear receptors and their coregulators led to the discovery and understanding of the mechanism of action of antiestrogens and selective receptor modulators.

Virtually all steps in steroid biosynthesis require the action of LH and FSH and are influenced by endocrine, autocrine, and paracrine actions of several intraovarian peptide hormones, growth factors, cytokines, and neuropeptides. In recent years, research has shown that these growth factors affect various cell processes, such as cytodifferentiation, mitogenesis, and apoptosis in a variety of ways. Activins, inhibins, and follistatins, members of the transforming growth factor (TGF)β (beta) family, were first discovered as gonadal peptide hormones that have actions on FSH production by pituitary gonadotropes to maintain normal reproductive axis. Follistatin also produced by the pituitary gonadotropes binds and modulates bioactivity of activin. Inhibins produced by the ovary also antagonize activin signaling via interaction with type II activin/BMP receptors and prevent the recruitment of type I receptor or via binding to betaglycans. They act along with other members of the TGFβ (beta) family, including TGFβ (beta) and a subset of BMPs and numerous growth factors (IGFs) and cytokines (interleukin 1 and 6), in concert with LH/FSH via a complex network of intracellular signaling to mediate their actions. Furthermore, another member of the TGFβ (beta) family, AMH produced by granulosa cells of early developing follicles, inhibits the FSH-induced primordial follicle growth and serves as a marker of ovarian reserve.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Pathology, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA

    Manjula K. Gupta PhD

  2. The Endocrine Clinic, Mount Elizabeth Hospital, Singapore, Singapore

    Su-Ynn Chia MBBS, MRCP (UK), FAMS

Authors
  1. Manjula K. Gupta PhD
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  2. Su-Ynn Chia MBBS, MRCP (UK), FAMS
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Correspondence to Manjula K. Gupta PhD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Cleveland Clinic, Ob/Gyn & Women's Health Institute, Euclid Ave 9500, Cleveland, 44195, Ohio, USA

    Tommaso Falcone

  2. Duke University Medical Center, Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erwin Rd 2301, Durham, 27705, North Carolina, USA

    William W. Hurd

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Gupta, M.K., Chia, SY. (2013). Ovarian Hormones: Structure, Biosynthesis, Function, Mechanism of Action, and Laboratory Diagnosis. In: Falcone, T., Hurd, W. (eds) Clinical Reproductive Medicine and Surgery. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6837-0_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6837-0_1

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