Evaluate the collective function of references cited together in a given text segment.
Classify their combined role into one of the following categories: 'method', 'background', or 'result'.

Text:It has been previously reported that chronic exposure to glucocorticoid can inhibit gonadotropin (LH and FSH) secretion as evidence by decrease responsiveness to administered GnRH and subnormal plasma testosterone.(16) LH is the hormone involved in the regulation of the steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein that deliver cholesterol to inner mitochondria for steroidogenesis in the Leydig cell.
Category: