luteinizing hormone (LH; interstitial-cell-stimulating hormone; ICSH) A hormone, secreted by the anterior pituitary gland in mammals, that stimulates in males the production of sex hormones (androgens) by the interstitial cells of the testes and in females ovulation, progesterone synthesis, and corpus luteum formation.

luteinizing hormone (LH) A gonadotropic protein hormone, secreted by the adenohypophysis (anterior pituitary) that stimulates in the male the production of testosterone and in the female the final ripening and rupture of the ovarian follicles. See also CORPUS LUTEUM.

luteinizing hormone (LH) (loo-ti-i-nyz-ing) n. a hormone (see gonadotrophin), synthesized and released by the anterior pituitary gland, that stimulates ovulation, corpus luteum formation, progesterone synthesis by the ovary, and androgen synthesis by the testes. Also called: interstitial-cell-stimulating hormone (ICSH).