What hormone stimulates the ovaries and testes and is released by the anterior pituitary?

The hormone that stimulates the ovaries and testes and is released by the anterior pituitary is Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH). FSH plays a crucial role in the reproductive system. In females, it is responsible for stimulating the growth and maturation of ovarian follicles, which contain the eggs. In males, FSH supports sperm production by acting on Sertoli cells in the testes, which are essential for nurturing and developing sperm cells.

This regulatory action of FSH is pivotal in the complex process of gametogenesis, ensuring proper reproductive function. The secretion of FSH is part of the broader gonadotropin response of the anterior pituitary, which also produces Luteinizing Hormone (LH), important for ovulation and testosterone production, but FSH specifically is the hormone that directly stimulates gamete formation.

The other hormones listed do not directly stimulate the ovaries and testes: Luteinizing Hormone, while important, primarily triggers ovulation in females and testosterone production in males but does not stimulate gamete production directly. Human Growth Hormone is involved in growth and metabolism, and Oxytocin is primarily known for its role in childbirth and lactation. Each of these hormones has distinct functions and is involved in different physiological