Final answer:
Luteinizing hormone (LH) is released during ovulation to prompt the release of a mature egg in females and stimulates testosterone production in males. It is produced by the pituitary gland.
Step-by-step explanation:
The hormone that is released during ovulation in females as part of the menstrual cycle to signal the ovaries to release a mature egg is called luteinizing hormone (LH). In males, LH is responsible for stimulating the testes to produce testosterone.
This hormone is produced by the pituitary gland, and its release is regulated by gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus.
During the menstrual cycle, another important hormone called follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is involved in the development of egg cells, or ova, which develop in structures called follicles. Both LH and FSH are crucial for the proper functioning of the reproductive systems in females and males.