Why does pulsatile secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus increase fertility, rather than continuous release?

💡 Explanation

Pulsatile GnRH prevents the downregulation of GnRH receptors on pituitary gonadotropes, thus maintaining their sensitivity to GnRH. Continuous GnRH exposure would lead to receptor desensitization and reduced FSH/LH secretion, impairing fertility, because the pituitary’s responsiveness decreases over time; therefore, pulsatile release optimizes gonadotropin secretion, rather than sustained release.

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