Follicle stimulating hormone enables ovarian folliculogenesis to the antral follicle stage and is essential for Sertoli cell proliferation and maintenance of sperm quality in the testis. Members of the pituitary glycoprotein hormone family, of which FSH is one consist of a shared alpha chain and a beta chain encoded by a separate gene. The FSH beta gene encodes the beta subunit of follicle stimulating hormone.
