title: High-frequency FSH and LH pulses in obese menopausal women.
abstract: We studied the pulsatile luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) secretory patterns, at early or intermediate years of menopause in seven normal women with different degrees of obesity, taking blood samples every minute for 40 min to 2 h. The hormones were assayed with an immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) system, analyzing with the cluster pulse algorithm. All women showed hormone pulses every 8-10 min. In five of them were found periods of discrete pulses with oscillations of high amplitude alternating with periods of pulses of low amplitude. In two cases, the high-frequency oscillatory pattern with low amplitude was found around low mean levels of 22.8 and 25.7 IU/L. The LH oscillatory pattern also had a high frequency, but at a lower level, giving a high FSH/LH ratio. The coincidence index of FSH with LH peaks was 76.6%. We concluded that at menopause, the frequency of FSH and LH secretion increases with a high FSH/LH ratio. Obese menopausal women may have the same high-frequency oscillatory patterns, but at low levels.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas, Universidad de Guanajuato, León, Mexico.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Huerta
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Malacara
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Fajardo
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Nava
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bocanegra
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sanchez
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D008593:Menopause / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone