title: Neuromodulatory regulation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone pulsatile discharge in women.
abstract: The pulsatile release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone and the consequent secretion of gonadotropins are regulated by a complex interplay of steroids, neuropeptides, catecholamines, and environmental factors. Estrogen and progesterone influence the amplitude and frequency of luteinizing hormone pulsatile secretion. These effects lead to both a diurnal variation in pulse frequency, with a lower frequency at night, and variation during the menstrual cycle, with a lower frequency and increased amplitude during the luteal phase. Opioid peptides inhibit the pulsatile discharge of gonadotropin-releasing hormone and luteinizing hormone. The opioid antagonist, naloxone, causes an increase in luteinizing hormone secretion, particularly during the luteal phase. The administration of opioid receptor agonists, such as beta-endorphin, results in a decline in serum luteinizing hormone during the early follicular phase. Corticotropin-releasing factor, which is increased during stress, inhibits pulsatile luteinizing hormone secretion, and this effect can be blocked by the simultaneous administration of naloxone. These observations suggest that corticotropin-releasing factor exerts its effects on luteinizing hormone through an opioidergic intermediary. Endogenous catecholamines such as dopamine inhibit pulsatile luteinizing hormone release; however, the mechanism involved is not clear.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, University of California, San Francisco 94143.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Jaffe
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Plosker
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000502:physiology*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology; D004723:Endorphins / Q000502:physiology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008593:Menopause; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D004723:Endorphins; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D009270:Naloxone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D004298:Dopamine