Gonadotropin-releasing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone beta, luteinizing hormone beta gene structure in idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if the genes for gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), follicle-stimulating hormone beta (FSH beta), and luteinizing hormone beta (LH beta) are present, and if so, whether gene structure is normal in patients with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH).


METHODS
Patients with clinical and laboratory characteristics of IHH were studied at the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) level to assess gene structure.


METHODS
This study took place in an academic setting.


METHODS
Human volunteers with documented IHH and fertile controls were studied.


METHODS
Genomic DNAs were extracted from each patient, Southern blots were constructed and hybridized to DNA probes for GnRH, FSH beta, and LH beta. DNA samples were also subjected to polymerase chain reaction analysis.


METHODS
Gene structure was assessed by analysis of autoradiographs and gel electrophoresis of polymerase chain reaction products in both the study patients and controls.


RESULTS
Each analysis for FSH beta, LH beta, and GnRH demonstrated the same sized fragments in both the study group and control group. A 1.2-kilobase fragment containing the coding region for GnRH was present in all patients with IHH and controls by polymerase chain reaction.


CONCLUSIONS
The genes for GnRH, LH beta, and FSH beta are present in patients with IHH. No large deletions or rearrangements of any of these genes were identified in any of these patients.
Layman
L C
LC
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta 30912-3360.
Wilson
J T
JT
Huey
L O
LO
Lanclos
K D
KD
Plouffe
L
L
McDonough
P G
PG
D001483:Base Sequence; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D004247:DNA / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015342:DNA Probes; D005091:Exons; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000235:genetics*; D037201:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, beta Subunit; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000235:genetics*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000502:physiology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D010375:Pedigree; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015183:Restriction Mapping
D015342:DNA Probes; D037201:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, beta Subunit; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D004247:DNA