title: Pituitary LH and FSH secretion and responsiveness in women of old age.
abstract: The plasma concentrations and episodic fluctuations of immunoreactive FSH and LH as well as the pituitary sensitivity to LH-RH stimulation were evaluated in post-menopausal women. The subjects were divided into 4 groups according to age. Group 1: 60-70 years old (n = 11), group 2: 70-80 years old (n = 22), group 3: 80-90 years old (n = 31) and group 4: 90-100 years old (n = 8). Standards used in gonadotrophin radioimmuno-assays included the LER-907 preparation and a pooled post-menopausal serum. Since it was found that circulating gonadotrophins have an immunological pattern different from that shown by the pituitary preparation, the results were expressed in mIU/ml calculated accordingly to the immunological behavior of pooled post-menopausal sera. The mean (+/- SE) plasma levels of FSH (mIU/ml) were: group ): 105 +/- 9.5, group 2: 149.3 +/- 10.5, group 3: 124.8 +/- 7.1 and group 4: 149.4 +/- 25.3. The mean (+/- SE) plasma levels of LH (mIU/ml) were: group 1: 81.9 +/- 12.5, group 2: 95.4 +/- 9.9, group 3: 84.3 +/- 7.7 and group 4: 113.5 +/- 19.1. No statistically significant differences were observed among the 4 groups. One patient from each group was randomly selected in order to evaluate their LH and FSH episodic release as well as their pituitary responsiveness to exogenous stimulation. A pulsatile plasma pattern of gonadotrophin and a normal pituitary response to LH-RH injection were observed in the 4 patients studied. The results are interpreted as demonstrating that normal pituitary gonadotrophin function and pituitary reserve and responsiveness to exogenous stimulation are maintained in women of advanced age.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone