National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level 2 (NCAC II) Practice Exam Exam

What type of cells in the anterior pituitary gland secrete hormones essential for reproduction?

1. Somatotrophs

2. Gonadotrophs

3. Lactotrophs

4. Corticotrophs

The correct answer is: Gonadotrophs

The gonadotrophs are the specific cells in the anterior pituitary gland responsible for the secretion of hormones that are essential for reproduction. They produce two key hormones: luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Both LH and FSH play crucial roles in regulating the function of the ovaries and testes, which are vital for sexual development and reproductive processes. Further, LH stimulates ovulation in females and testosterone production in males, while FSH is involved in the growth and maturation of ovarian follicles in females and spermatogenesis in males. The coordinated action of these hormones is critical for normal reproductive function, making gonadotrophs essential in the context of reproduction. Other cell types in the anterior pituitary have different roles; for example, somatotrophs primarily secrete growth hormone, which is important for growth and metabolism, lactotrophs secrete prolactin, which is involved in milk production, and corticotrophs produce adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which stimulates the adrenal glands. Each of these cell types has a distinct function, but it is the gonadotrophs that are specifically tied to reproductive hormone secretion.