Gonadotropin releasing hormone receptor (GnRHR) is secreted from hypothalamus and delivered to the anterior pituitary via the hypophyseal portal circulation where it binds to the GnRHR on the surface of gonadotropes triggering the synthesis and secretion of the gonadotropins, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). In the female, LH stimulates the production of androgens by the thecal cells that surround the growing ovarian follicle. During the terminal stages of follicular growth, LH also drives the production of progesterone from the granulosa cells of the preovulatory follicle. FSH binds to receptors on the surface of ovarian granulosa cells stimulating the expression of aromatase enzymes that convert thecal.
