Intermittent Stimulation with LH-RH in Postmenopausal Hypergonadotropism

Jp, Hanker; Ende, U; Hg, Bohnet; Hp, Schneider

doi:10.1055/s-2007-1019379

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Considering both the absolute and relative gonadotropin release magnitudes following GnRH stimula tions at different chronological ages, we found substantial alter ations in the LH, but not FSH responsiveness to GnRH stimu lations during reproductive senescence in women. Our findings arc contrasting with results of previous investigations in both aging women [21,26] and men [27,28], in whom the pituitary LH reserve was reported to remain fairly constant and indepen dent of age. However, a compromised pituitary responsiveness has also been found in during aging in experimental animals, when the pituitary LH responsiveness was markedly attenuated in aged rats [29], A greater pituitary gonadotropin sensitivity to physiologic stimulations has been presumed to result from a hyperplasia of the gonadotroph after cessation of ovarian func tion [30].…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 57%

“…As concerns our investigation, it may be speculated that such morphologic alteration in the pituitary gonadotroph may not persist, when aging progresses. Therefore, while a high pituitary responsiveness has been unequivocally confirmed for early postmenopausal years in the current and other [21,26] studies, some adaptation of the gonadotroph and thus a decline of the pituitary responsiveness may occur during advanced chronobiological age. The observation of an unaltered FSH pi tuitary sensitivity to GnRH stimulation during aging warrants further consideration.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Gonadotropin Secretion during Aging in Postmenopausal Women

Rossmanith¹,

Scherbaum

Lauritzen³

1991

Neuroendocrinology

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Although chronological aging is known to result in reduced gonadotropin secretion in women, the precise mechanisms to account for this neuroendocrine manifestation are yet obscure. To evaluate the extent to which the pituitary and/or hypothalamus are involved in the process of aging, we aimed at characterizing the unstimulated and GnRH-stimulated gonadotropin secretion in postmenopausal women (PMW) of different ages. Accordingly, 9 younger PMW (mean age: 53.8 years) in their first and 9 older PMW (mean age: 80.3 years) in their 4th decade of life after natural onset of menopause were studied. In both groups, blood was collected at 10-min intervals for 10 h, while GnRH (25 µg i.v.) was administered 8 h after initiation of blood samplings. Compared to younger PMW, basal serum concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate were lower (p < 0.05) in older PMW, while estrogen (estradiol, estrone), androgen (testosterone, androstendione) and sex hormone binding globulin levels were similar. Lower (p < 0.01) mean LH levels composed of attenuated (p < 0.05) LH pulse amplitudes and pulse frequencies (as determined by the cluster pulse algorithm) were found in the 8-hour LH secretory profiles of older PMW. Furthermore, the FSH secretion of older PMW was characterized by lower (p < 0.01) mean FSH levels with lower (p < 0.05) FSH pulse amplitudes, but not pulse frequencies. The absolute peak concentrations attained and the total amount of LH and FSH released in response to GnRH stimulations were blunted (p < 0.001) in older PMW. Similarly, the percentual GnRH-stimulated LH and FSH increases over preceding unstimulated basal concentrations were greater (p < 0.01) in younger than in older PMW. These observations indicate that the gonadotropin secretion is reduced during advanced age in PMW. This attenuated serum gonadotropin pulsatility found in older PMW is presumably the consequence of reduced release of hypothalamic GnRH and of a decreased sensitivity of the pituitary gonadotroph.

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