Q. What would happen to the level of gonadotropins after surgical removal of ovaries?
Solution:
Ovary is regulated by pituitary gonadotropins or GnRH. Anterior pituitary secretes follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) which controls of the transformation of young primary follicle into Graafian follicle, maturation of ovum and secretion of estrogens by its follicular cells. The Luteinizing hormone (LH) of anterior pituitary regulates the ovulation from the Graafian follicle, transformation of empty Graafian follicle into yellowish coloured corpus luteum and secretion of progesterone hormone from the corpus luteum.
Estrogens produce wide ranging actions such as appearance of female secondary sex characters (e.g., high pitch of voice, etc.), stimulation of growth and activities of female secondary sex organs, and mammary gland development. Estrogens also regulate female sexual behaviour. It also inhibits secretion of FSH.
Progesterone supports pregnancy, acts on the mammary glands and stimulates the development of mammary alveoli. It also strengthen uterine wall. Apart from that, it provide negative feedback inhibition to LH and GnRH thus inhibitng production of both FSH and LH.
In oophorectomy, since the sex hormones are absent it leads to high level of gonadotropins in blood and thus can even induce osteoporosis, a condition which arises in many females after menopause.
Estrogens produce wide ranging actions such as appearance of female secondary sex characters (e.g., high pitch of voice, etc.), stimulation of growth and activities of female secondary sex organs, and mammary gland development. Estrogens also regulate female sexual behaviour. It also inhibits secretion of FSH.
Progesterone supports pregnancy, acts on the mammary glands and stimulates the development of mammary alveoli. It also strengthen uterine wall. Apart from that, it provide negative feedback inhibition to LH and GnRH thus inhibitng production of both FSH and LH.