Pulsatile release patterns of luteinizing hormone and progesterone in relation to symptom onset in women with premenstrual syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the pulsatile-release characteristics of LH and P in women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) compared with age-matched phase-matched controls.


METHODS
Prospective, repeated measures, two-group study.


METHODS
Human volunteers in an academic research environment.


METHODS
Six women with rigorously defined prospectively determined PMS; six age-matched phase-matched controls.


METHODS
Frequency, amplitude, concentration, and coincident pulsatile release characteristics of LH and P at three symptom-related points of the luteal phase.


RESULTS
No significant between-group differences in frequency, amplitude, or concentration were found. In pooled data, significant coincident pulsing between LH and P was demonstrated. The length of time between LH and P pulses systematically increased across the luteal phase, a finding not previously reported. In the PMS group only, significant coincident pulsing occurred at an unexpected zero time lag on the symptom-onset sampling day.


CONCLUSIONS
A progressively increasing coupling interval may reflect the gradual decline of the corpus luteum. Presence of a zero time lag between LH and P at symptom onset in women with PMS may indicate an aberrance in corpus luteum response to LH stimulation.
Lewis
L L
LL
School of Nursing, Department of Physiological Nursing, University of California, USA.
Greenblatt
E M
EM
Rittenhouse
C A
CA
Veldhuis
J D
JD
Jaffe
R B
RB
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D011293:Premenstrual Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies
D011374:Progesterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone