Gonadotropin-releasing hormone-induced changes in testosterone secretion in normal women.
This study investigated the pattern of testosterone (T) secretion in spontaneous (n = 14) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-treated (n = 6) menstrual cycles in normal women. In spontaneous cycles, T was found to increase progressively over the follicular phase (P less than or equal to 0.001), with the peak T value occurring on cycle day 0 (luteinizing hormone [LH] surge). The mean (+/- standard error of the mean [SEM]) T values on cycle day -14 and cycle day 0 were 35 +/- 4 and 51 +/- 4 ng/dl, respectively. GnRH was administered intravenously to six women at 1.3 to 1.7 micrograms per dose every 30 minutes in a study that assessed the ovarian effects of a rapid gonadotropin pulse frequency. In three of the women, the T levels followed a normal follicular phase pattern, whereas in the remaining three GnRH-treated women, there were marked increases in T with peak levels of 97, 123, and 81 ng/dl on day 0. The GnRH-treated subgroup with increased T levels had significantly increased follicular levels of LH, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), LH-bio and number of preovulatory ovarian follicles. This study demonstrated that increased levels of LH, FSH, and LH/FSH are capable of acutely increasing the secretion of ovarian androgens.
Soules
M R
MR
Clifton
D K
DK
Steiner
R A
RA
Cohen
N L
NL
Bremner
W J
WJ
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005498:Follicular Phase; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism*
D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone