The effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists on adrenocorticotropin and cortisol secretion in adult premenopausal women.
GnRH agonists are known to suppress LH, FSH, and subsequent ovarian estradiol production by down-regulation of pituitary gonadotropin receptors. Previous investigations have demonstrated that GnRH agonists also suppress GHRH-stimulated GH release in normal men and women and PRL levels in subjects with hyperprolactinemia. Little is known about the effects of GnRH agonists on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine the secretion of ACTH and cortisol after an iv infusion of hCRH in control women (n = 11) and in women undergoing treatment with GnRH agonists (n = 10). The plasma and serum levels of ACTH and cortisol increased after infusion of CRH in all women. The basal and CRH-stimulated plasma levels of ACTH and cortisol at each time point were not statistically different between GnRH agonist-treated women and controls. Thus, the chronic use of GnRH agonists is known to suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis and is associated with GH and PRL suppression as well, but does not apparently alter the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235-9032.
E E
EE
Wilson
B B
BB
Little
W
W
Byrd
E
E
McGee
B R
BR
Carr
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016729:Leuprolide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D016729:Leuprolide; D006854:Hydrocortisone