title: Effect of dexamethsone on luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone responses to LHRH and to clomiphene in the follicular phase of women with normal menstrual cycles.
abstract: In an attempt to elucidate the mechanism of suppressive action of glucocorticoids on the hypothalamo-pituitary-ovarian axis, we studied the effects of short-term high dose dexamethasone administration of the LH and FSH responses to LHRH and to clomiphene in healthy women with normal menstrual cycles. Seven women, 21--35 years of age, received 100 micrograms of LHRH i.v. on day 6 of two consecutive menstrual cycles, once with and once without pre-treatment with dexamethasone 2 mg orally every 6 hrs. on days 2 through 5 of the menstrual cycle. Seven other women (ages 21--35 years) received clomiphene citrate 100 mg on days 2 through 5 of their menstrual cycle, once with and once without simultaneous administration of dexamethasone 2 mg orally every 6 h. The administration of dexamethasone suppressed baseline serum levels of LH and FSH and blunted LH and FSH response to both LHRH and clomiphene. The results indicate that short-term administration of pharmacological doses of glucocorticoids suppress the secretion of LH and FSH by a direct effect on the anterior pituitary and possibly by an effect at the hypothalamic level with inhibition of the release of LHRH.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002996:Clomiphene / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003907:Dexamethasone; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000187:drug effects*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D008598:Menstruation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D002996:Clomiphene; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D003907:Dexamethasone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone