Secretion of bioactive and immunoreactive luteinizing hormone in patients with the polycystic ovaries syndrome

Abstract

Basal secretion of immunoreactive and bioactive LH was measured in 24 patients with polycystic ovaries, secretion during LH-RF test in 18 patients. Basal LH level was assessed from in vitro testosterone secretion by murine Leydigs cells. The content of basal LH and basal LH to FSH ratio in patients with the polycystic ovaries syndrome was markedly increased vs. the norm. Three types of gonadotroph responses were observed in the patients in response to LH-RF, these responses differing by increment rate, time course of secretion, and ratio of secreted basal and immunoreactive LH. Gonadotroph response was found related to ovarian morphology and clinical manifestations of the disease. Administration of LH-RF to patients with polycystic ovaries and tecomatosis changed the ratio of secreted basal and immunoreactive LH by reducing basal LH level. In young girls and women aged under 20 the increment of basal and immunoreactive LH noticeably surpassed its values in older patients with longer disease duration.