Low serum levels of FSH, LH and prolactin in luteal phase inadequacy.

Abstract

In order to elucidate the relationship between prolaction (PRL) levels and corpus lutcum function in humans, assessment of temporal relationship between levels of PRL, LH, FSH, estradiol and progesterone was made in eleven normal cycling women and six short luteal women . All hormones were determined by specific radioimmunoassay.The mean PRL level in the luteal phase was higher than that in the follicular phase in normal women . On the other hand, no difference mean was seen between the PRL levels of follicular and luteal phases in short luteal women. In addition, follicular and luteal phase secretion of PRL in the short luteal phase (SLP) was lower than that in the normal control.LH and FSH in the follicular and luteal phases , estradiol secretion in the late follicular and early to mid-luteal phases in SLP were also lower than those in the control. These observations were consistent with the hypothesis that SLP is a sequel to aberrant folliculogenesis . In addition, it is inferred that low PRL levels in the SLP might be due to inadequate augmentation by estrogen, rather than giving PRL any positive controlling role in the maintenance of corpus luteum function.

Luteal-phase defect induced by deprivation of FSH at a specific period of the follicular phase prevents pregnancy in the bonnet monkey (Macaca radiata)

“…However, it has been suggested that a reduction in FSH concentrations during the early follicular phase with crude inhibin could influence luteal function, resulting in luteal phase defects (Stouffer & Hodgen, 1980;diZerega & Hodgen, 1981;Jayaraman et ai, 1986). Minakami et al (1985) have attempted to correlate luteal phase defects with low serum FSH, LH and prolactin values in women and Wilks et ai (1976) observed that inappropriate FSH:LH ratios are responsible for short luteal phases seen in monkeys. Thau et ai (1979) reported that adult cyclic rhesus monkeys actively immunized against the ß subunit of ovine LH show normal follicular maturation, ovulation and corpus luteum formation but exhibit a luteal defect in that the corpus luteum is unable to support the establish¬ ment of pregnancy.…”

Effects of progesterone on prolactin secretion in hypogonadal women.

“…Some investigators have failed to observe any systemic fluctuation on prolactin levels during the cycle (Ehara et al, 1973, McNeilly and Chard 1974, Epstein et al, 1975, while recent reports, referred to an overall pattern of serum prolactin during the menstrual cycle which resembled that for circulating estradiol (Franchimont et al, 1976, Vekemans et al, 1977, Djursing et al, 1981, Minakami et al, 1985 with small differences between the prolactin levels in the follicular and luteal phases.…”