Plasma Follicle-stimulating Hormone Levels Research Articles

Effect of premenopausal castration and incremental dosages of conjugated equine estrogens on plasma follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and estradiol

Plasma levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and estradiol (E2) were measured serially in 11 premenopausal patients before and after hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. One week after operation an incremental dosage regimen of conjugated estrogens (CEE) in tablet form was commenced on a basis of two weeks with therapy (0.3, 0.625, 1.25, and finally 2.5 mg.), with each dose interspersed by two weeks without therapy. FSH, LH and E2 levels were measured at the end of each period with and without therapy. E2 levels fell within 24 hours of operation while FSH and LH levels rose gradually. CEE therapy produced an elevation of E2, but circulating concentrations comparable to the premenopausal values were only maintained during the dosage periods of 0.625 and 1.25 mg. of CEE. In only one instance did CEE succeed in reducing FSH to premenopausal levels, and that was at a dosage of 2.5 mg., in which instance the E2 level was higher than the premenopausal value. LH was never reduced to a premenopausal level. Thus, the data indicate that CEE alone in dosages up to 2.5 mg. per day was unable to reproduce in postmenopausal women the gonadotropin and E2 blood serum levels whown to exist prior to oophorectomy. Usual CEE treatment after menopause, therefore, in itself does not represent physiologic “hormone replacement therapy,” if defined as the dosage required to maintain premenopausal circulating concentrations of reproductive hormones.

Suppressive Effect of 1,2-Dibromo-3-Chloropropane on Human Spermatogenesis

Azoospermia was diagnosed in six factory workers who had been chronically exposed to 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane. Infertility was the presenting symptom in two patients and a decrease in libido or impotence characterized the others. Hormone studies revealed elevated plasma follicle-stimulating hormone levels and normal plasma luteinizing hormone and testosterone concentrations. Testicular biopsy showed selective atrophy of the germinal epithelium, intact Sertoli cells, and a normal appearance of a relatively increased number of Leydig cells.

ACTIVE IMMUNIZATION OF EWES AGAINST LUTEINIZING HORMONE RELEASING HORMONE, AND ITS EFFECTS ON OVULATION AND GONADOTROPHIN, PROLACTIN AND OVARIAN STEROID SECRETION

Three Scottish Blackface ewes were immunized against luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LH-RH) conjugated to bovine serum albumin (BSA) and three control ewes were immunized against BSA alone. When the antibody titre to LH-RH became raised the treated animals failed to show oestrus or ovulate; they had significantly lower levels of plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) and higher levels of prolactin than the controls, whereas the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were unaltered. The integrity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal system of these animals was then challenged by the injection of a highly active analogue of LH-RH and by ovariectomy. An i.v. injection of 5 microgram D-serine-t-butyl 6 des-glycine-NH2 10 LH-RH ethylamide raised plasma LH and FSH. Ovariectomy caused an eight- and ninefold rise in plasma levels of LH and FSH respectively in controls, but failed to increase plasma levels of LH and FSH in the LH-RH-immunized ewes. Plasma prolactin concentrations in the LH-RH-immunized ewes were significantly reduced by ovariectomy.

Effect of cadmium chloride on the serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and androgens in the adult male rat

Adult male rats injected with cadmium chloride were compared with controls with respect to serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), androgens and testicular histology. A single injection of cadmium chloride (9 mg/kg) was found to bring about no consistent short term changes in the plasma levels of FSH or LH, but after a long period the levels of both these hormones were elevated. In contrast, the levels of androgen showed a sharp increase at 6 h which declined by 12 h. In accordance with the elevated levels of gonadotropins found at 9–28 days after cadmium chloride injection, the androgen levels showed a drastic reduction. Histological aspect of the testis revealed acute necrotic changes of which the vacuolation of spermatid nuclei and fibrosis of Leydig cells are noteworthy.

Testicular Damage Due to Cytotoxic Drugs and Recovery after Cessation of Therapy

Testicular function was assessed in 32 patients who received standard chemotherapy regimens for disseminated lymphomas. Thirty-one had evidence of germ cell damage, as assessed by the finding of azoospermia and/or high plasma levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). In addition, five patients had persistently low plasma testosterone levels associated in three with elevated plasma luteinising hormone (LH) levels. Reproductive function did not recover in any patient while chemotherapy continued. Cessation of therapy was possible in 16 patients with prolonged remissions of disease. Among these, recovery of germinal epithelium differed greatly between the cyclophosphamide / vincristine / prednisone treated group and the mustine/procarbazine/vincristine/prednisone treated group. Seventy per cent of the former patients had evidence of recovery after 34 months of follow-up while only one (17%) of the latter had begun to recover at 52 months post-therapy. Serial measurement of plasma FSH levels proved useful in predicting likely recovery of spermatogenesis.

Evaluation of Testicular Function in Prepubertal Boys by Means of the Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone Test

Luteinizing hormone (LH)-releasing hormone (LH-RH) tests (50 microgram/sq m intravenously) were performed in 112 prepubertal boys ages 13/12 to 11 years (mean +/- standard deviation, 75/12 +/- 16/12 years) suspected of having a testicular disorder because of improperly located testes (77 boys) or hypogonadism (35 boys). Four of the patients were retested within a period ranging from 6 to 16 months. Of the 112 boys tested, 17% were found to have high basal levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and 23% were found to have an abnormally high release of FSH after LH-RH administration. Only three patients had abnormally high basal levels of LH and/or elevated LH responses to LH-RH. The basal plasma testosterone levels were found to be normal in all 112 bosy. The fact that plasma FSH levels were elevated more often than LH levels suggests that the tubular elements are damaged more frequently than are the Leydig cells. The surprisingly high incidence of an abnormal response of plasma FSH to LH-RH in boys with mobile testes calls for an increased awareness of the importance of regular examination of these patients until full puberty has been achieved. It is concluded that determination of basal plasma FSH levels and the response to LH-RH stimulation is a useful diagnostic tool for evaluating testicular function in prepubertal boys with suspected pathology of the testes.

Comparison of Plasma Hormone Changes Using a “Conventional” and a “Paper” Pill Formulation of a Low-Dose Oral Contraceptive

Two formulations of a low-dose oral contraceptive (Microgynon: 150 microgram of levonorgestrel [NG] +30 micrograms of ethynylestradiol [EE2]) were studied. The first was the "conventional" pill; the second was a "paper" pill prepared by evaporation of aliquots of a solution of the component steroids onto squares of edible cellulose separated by perforations, similar to a sheet of postage stamps. The effects of the two formulations on plasma levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), 17beta-estradiol (E2), and progesterone were compared. Samples of blood were obtained from five women during a treatment period on the "conventional" pill and from five on the "paper" pill. When possible, blood samples were also obtained from a "control" cycle of each of these female subjects. Plasma LH, FSH, E2, and progesterone levels were determined by specific radioimmunoassay methods during control and treatment periods and NG and EE2 levels during treatment periods. Eight-hour plasma profiles for NG and EE2 at the beginning and in the later stage of the treatment periods were obtained and these samples were also analyzed for LH, FSH, E2, and progesterone. Results showed that with one exceptcrogynon were equally effective in suppressing ovulation. As in a previous study, FSH levels appeared to be one of the most sensitive indices of suppression.

Vaginal Absorption of Estrone and 17β-Estradiol

In order to study estrogen absorption from the vagina, 0.5 mg of unconjugated estrone (E1) or 17beta-estradiol (E2) was administered vaginally to 10 postmenopausal patients. A 29-fold increase in plasma E2 and a 4-fold increase in plasma E1 concentrations were observed 1 hour following the vaginal deposition of 0.5 mg of E2. Maximal decreases of 25% and 37% in plasma levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), respectively, were observed at 5 hours following treatment. One hour after vaginal administration of 0.5 mg of E1, a 24-fold increase in plasma E1 and a 3.7-fold increase in E2 were observed. These increases were associated with a 30% decrease in plasma FSH and LH. These data indicate that the vaginal administration of E2 or E1 may be used to achieve physiologic blood levels of these estrogens. They further suggest that vaginal estrogens not be used in patients in whom systemic estrogen therapy is contraindicated.

Stimulation of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone by [D-Leu6,Des-Gly10-NH2]-LH-Releasing Hormone Ethylamide after Subcutaneous, Intravaginal, and Intrarectal Administration to Women

Women, most of whom had regular menstrual cycles, were administered D-Leu6,des-Gly10-NH2)-luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) ethylamide (D-Leu6-LH-RH-EA)via different routes during the early or midfollicular phase of the cycle. Plasma LH, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and estrogen levels were determined by radioimmunoassay before and after administration of D-Leu6-LH-RH-EA. plasma LH and FSH increased and reached peak levels 3 to 4 hours and 3 to 6 hours, respectively, after subcutaneous injection of 25 mug of the analog of LH-RH. Intravaginal or intrarectal application of 2 mg of D-Leu6-LH-RH-EA also increased plasma LH and FSH levels in most of the women, but the magnitude of the rise, the time of initiation of response, and the peak level varied among the women. The plasma estrogen level also rose after administration via either route.

EFFECT OF AN ANABOLIC STEROID (METANDIENON) ON PLASMA LH, FSH, AND TESTOSTERONE AND ON THE RESPONSE TO INTRAVENOUS ADMINISTRATION OF LRH

Plasma levels of testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) as well as the response of LH and FSH to the intravenous administration of 100 mug of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LRH) were measured in 16 well-trained athletes (mean age 30 years) before and after 2 months of daily oral intake of 15 mg of metandienon, and anabolic steroid (Anabolin, 17 alpha-methyl-17beta-hydroxy-1,4-androstadien-3-one, Medica, Finland). All athletes continued to train regularly, just as they had done for several years. During administration of metandienon the mean plasma testosterone level fell 69%, from 29.4 +/- 11.6 nmol/1 to 9.1 +/- 7.5 nmol/1. The mean plasma levels of LH and FSH also fell significantly (P less than 0.001 and P less than 0.01, respectively), both about 50%. Because LH and FSH levels were low after administration of the steroid the maximum stimulation values after LRH administration were also lower than pre-treatment values although the mean increments did not differ significantly before and after administration of the anabolic steroid. However, after treatment, the FSH response curve had a biphasic pattern in most subjects, with peaks at 10 to 20 and 50 to 60 min after the iv injection of LRH. Administration of LRH after the treatment period had no effect on FSH secretion in two subjects and no effect on LH secretion in one. Our results show that administration of an anabolic steroid causes a pronounced lowering of plasma levels of testosterone, LH and FSH but causes no gross alteration in the response of LH secretion to stimulation by LRH. The reason for the biphasic response pattern of FSH to LRH administration in most subjects is not known.

Correlation between integrated LH and FSH levels and the response to luteinizing hormone relasing factor (LRF).

Integrated blood plasma levels of LH and FSH and their response to the iv administration of 100 mug synthetic LRF were studied in 29 normal subjects, 12 women with Stein-Leventhal syndrome, 8 subjects with primary gonadal failure, 7 women with Sheehan's syndrome, 20 subjects with pituitary tumors, 10 subjects with idiopathic gonadotropin deficiency and 5 subjects with hypothalamic tumors. Within each group there was considerable variation in the response of LH and FSH levels to LRF. In each group there was a statistically significant positive correlation between basal integrated gonadotropin levels and the response of the levels to LRF. Both within groups and between groups, the best indicator of the response to LRF was the basal levels of FSH and LH. In subjects with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism there was no significant difference in mean basal LH levels and mean response to LRF between patients with primarily pituitary disease (pituitary tumors or Sheehan's syndrome) and conditions which might represent hypothalamic disease (hypothalamic tumors or idiopathic gonadotropin deficiency). The response to an acute, single, injection of LRF appears to more directly reflect basal gonadotropin levels rather than disease category.

Evidence for inhibin-like activity in bovine follicular fluid.

THE negative feedback action of testicular steroids on circulating levels of luteinising hormone (LH) is well known. It is less clear how the testis influences follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). The existence of ‘inhibin’, a water-soluble testicular product that inhibits the secretion of FSH, was first postulated in 1932 (ref. 1); recently, inhibin activity has been detected in rete testis fluid2, testicular tissue3, spermatozoa4 and seminal plasma5. Immunisation of rabbits with the inhibin fraction of bull seminal plasma has produced an antiserum which raised plasma FSH levels when injected into male and female rats6. It has been suggested7 that, in the male, inhibin may be produced by the Sertoli cells of the testis. If this is the case, one wonders if inhibin could also be produced by granulosa cells of the ovary. We have, therefore, looked for the presence of a specific FSH-suppressing agent in ovarian follicular fluid by comparing the effects of fluid and peripheral plasma on the levels of FSH and LH in newly castrated male rats.

Studies on Low-Dose Oral Contraceptives: Cervical Mucus and Plasma Hormone Changes in Relation to Circulating D-Norgestrel and 17α-Ethynyl Estradiol Concentrations

A study was undertaken to determine the effects of a low-dose oral contraceptive comprising 150 mug of D-norgestrel and 30 mug of 17alpha-ethynyl estradiol (Microgynon) on the plasma levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), 17BETA-ESTRADIOL, AND PROGESTERONE AND ON THE PHYSICAl properties of cervical mucus. Samples of blood and cervical mucus were obtained from three women during a treated cycle and the immediately-following "withdrawal" cycle. Specific radioimmunoassay methods were used to determine LH, FSH, 17beta-estradiol, and progesterone levels in treated and withdrawal cycles, and D-norgestrel and 17alpha-ethynyl estradiol in samples obtained during treated cycles. The concentration of synthetic steroids was also measured in blood samples obtained before and 1 hour after ingestion of the contraceptive to determine the maximal daily variation. The results indicated that the contraceptive action of this combined low-dose oral contraceptive is mediated through suppression of ovulation and by rendering the cervical mucus impenetrable to sperm. Plasma FSH levels appeared to be one of the most sensitive indices of suppression. Determination of D-norgestrel and 17alpha-ethynyl estradiol showed that 3 to 4 days were required to reach maximal plasma levels and that daily fluctuations were considerable. Withdrawal of the pill resulted in an immediate return to ovulatory cycles in all three subjects studied.

Plasma Progesterone and Gonadotrophin Levels During the Estrous Cycle of the Guinea Pig

Blood samples were collected once daily throughout the estrous cycle (and at more frequent intervals from the time of vaginal opening) from guinea pigs fitted with indwelling atrial catheters. Progesterone, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in the plasma were measured by radioimmunoassay. Daily sampling showed that mean plasma progesterone levels were elevated between cycle Days 4 and 12 while mean plasma FSH levels were elevated between Days 3 and 11, though no significant variations were observed in LH levels except for a fall between Days 8 and 11 and a subsequent rise to Day 13. When samples were collected at 4-h intervals from the time of vaginal opening, peaks of plasma LH and progesterone were seen during, or immediately following the end of, the dark period of the day on which an estrous smear was collected. The peaks lasted for 1 sample in the case of LH and for 1 to 2 samples in the case of progesterone. More frequent sampling (2-h) indicated that the rise of progesterone followed the rise of LH. In no animal was there evidence of a rise in plasma FSH that could be correlated with the peaks of the other two hormones measured. The effect of sampling, which was found to affect the length of the estrous cycle, and, in particular, the interval between vaginal opening and ovulation, is discussed.

Response of plasma LH and FSH to synthetic LH-RH in children at various pubertal stages.

Fifty normal boys and 47 normal girls, aged 5 to 18 years, underwent a standard luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) test (50 mug/sq m by rapid intravenous injection), and the plasma levels of LH and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were determined. The results were analyzed separately according to the pubertal stages for each sex. A wide range of distribution of the individual measurements of the plasma gonadotropins throughout the LH-RH tests was found, but the mean values of the basal and peak levels showed a definite pattern for each sex at the different pubertal stages. Of particular interest was the sharp rise in basal plasma FSH level and its marked response to LH-RH in girls at the onset of puberty. The girls at this stage had the highest basal and peak FSH levels obtained at any pubertal stage in both sexes. It is concluded that the establishment of norms of LH and FSH response to a standard dose of LH-RH will be useful in evaluating normal and abnormal pubertal states in both sexes.

Influence of suckling and of suckling followed by TRH or LH-RH on plasma prolactin, TSH, GH and FSH.

Ten women were studied during the first post-partum week. Suckling for 20 min induced a marked increase in plasma prolactin, reaching a maximum within 0-25 min after the end of suckling and then returning to pre-suckling levels after 120 min. Suckling induced no changes in plasma thyrotrophin (TSH), growth hormone (GH) or follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). The iv injection of 200 mug of thyrotrophin releasing hormone (TRH) immediately after suckling resulted in an additional increase in plasma prolactin and a rise in TSH. When given 120 min after suckling TRH was followed by increased plasma levels of prolactin and TSH, which for both hormones were of a magnitude comparable to the TRH induced increment seen immediately after suckling. Thus, suckling did not inhibit the effect of TRH on the release of TSH. These studies indicate that TRH is probably not involved in the suckling induced increase in prolactin secretion. The mean plasma FSH level was below the limit of detection before and after suckling. Neither plasma FSH nor prolactin showed any appearant changes following the iv injection of 25 mug of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LH-RH), when given immediately after and 120 min after suckling. When given after suckling as indicated above, TRH induced no changes in plasma GH or FSH and similarly LH-RH was without influence on plasma GH and TSH.

Annual variation in reproductive behavior, testosterone, and plasma FSH levels in the Rouen duck, Anas platyrhynchos

The annual variation in four types of reproductive activity (social display, sexual behavior, aggressive behavior toward males, and toward females) were studied in five male domestic ducks kept in controlled environmental conditions. The changes were compared with the variation in the plasma levels of testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) as measured by radioimmunoassay. The hormone levels are compared with the data available on the hypophyseal-gonadal cycle. The behavior and physiological variations were analysed statistically. Sexual behavior correlates with testosterone levels while social displays rather surprisingly appear linked to the titre of blood FSH. The possibility of a direct behavioral effect of gonadotropins is discussed.

Plasma steroid and protein hormone concentrations in patients with prostatic carcinoma, before and during oestrogen therapy.

Plasma testosterone, androstenedione, oestradiol-17beta, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were not significantly different in patients with prostatic cancer, with benign prostatic hyperplasia or in patients without prostatic disease. Plasma prolactin concentrations were significantly lower in the patients with benign disease than those with prostatic carcinoma. Endocrine therapy in the form of stilboestrol administration significantly decreased plasma levels of testosterone, oestradiol-17beta, FSH and LH within 7 days of the treatment. After 7 days therapy prolactin levels increased significantly in all patients studied. Changes in growth hormone concentrations were more varied in response to stilboestrol, being elevated in several patients and remaining unchanged in others. Treatment of a few prostatic carcinoma patients who were receiving stilboestrol therapy with CB154, an inhibitor of prolactin secretion, brought an immediate decrease in prolactin levels which was was sustained. Plasma testosterone, androstenedione and growth hormone were unchanged in these patients but a significant decrease in plasma oestradiol-17beta was noted in two patients during CB154 administration.

An Investigation of Plasma Hormone Levels Before and After Vasectomy

A prospective study of effects of vasectomy on the plasma levels of testosterone, estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) was instituted. Postvasectomy plasma hormone levels were compared with prevasectomy, base line levels. Beginning at 6 months after vasectomy, mean plasma testosterone levels demonstrated a statistically significant elevation, mean plasma estradiol levels were lower, mean plasma LH levels were elevated, and mean plasma FSH levels were unchanged. By 2 years after vasectomy, a slight plasma FSH elevation had occurred, plasma estradiol levels had returned to base line, and plasma testosterone and LH levels remained elevated. These changes, although significant statistically, did not exceed the normal ranges found in normal adult males in our laboratory and were of unclear physiologic significance. Thus, it can be concluded from this study of 56 men studied for 2 years, 148 men studied for 1 year, and 182 men studied for 6 months after vasectomy that no adverse hormonal effects of vasectomy have been demonstrated.

Studies on the secretion of gonadotropins in patients with collagen diseases

It is well known that majority of patients with collagen diseases are women and that collagen diseases take turn for the worse or the better when the secretion of sex hormones changes greatly at menarche, pregnancy, delivery or menopause. These facts suggest that sex hormones are involved in the pathophysiology of collagen diseases. In the present study, the responses of plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels following the intravenous injection of 100 mug luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LR-RH) were investigated in 34 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and in 15 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The results obtained were as follows: 1) The magnitude of plasma LH response to LH-RH in 29 mature female patients with SLE was significantly greater than that in normal subjects. 2) On the other hand, the magnitude of plasma FSH response to LH-RH in patients with SLE was comparable to that in control subjects. 3) In patients with RA who have normal menstrual cycles, the magnitude of increase in plasma LH and FSH levels after the injection of LH-RH was the almost same as that in normal subjects. Increased responses in plasma LH and FSH levels to LH-RH were observed in 7 patients with RA who were 3 menopausal females and 4 aged males. These findings suggest that the secretion of LH, but not FSH, in response to LH-RH might augment in patients with SLE. On the other hand, in RA patients the function of the pituitary-gonadal axis might maintain within normal limits. For that reason, I guess the following possibilities: 1) In patients with SLE the pathological changes of the disease reached to the ovary and ovarial function was slightly suppressed and then a hypersecretion of LH was observed, 2) the hypothalamus was attacked with the disease and then an unknown mechanism caused the hypersecretion of LH.