正常月经周期妇女卵泡液中激素水平的变化

本文测定了24例正常月经妇女在不同时相、不同大小卵泡的卵泡液中雌二醇(E_2)、孕酮(P_0)、雄烯二酮(A)、睾酮(T)、卵泡刺激素(FSH)、黄体生成素(LH)和催乳素(PRL)的含量,并分析其与外周血中相应激素浓度的关系。测定结果显示:小卵泡的卵泡液中E_2、Po,FSH,LH水平低于大卵泡中水平,而A和T水平则相反。排卵前大卵泡中E_2(9815nmol/L),P_0(3316nmol/L),FSH(1.34IU/L)和LH(3.9lIU/L)达最高值。A(280nmol/L)和T(137nmol/L)却较小卵泡中水平低(相应为692nmol/L和176nmol/L)。PRL水平在大小卵泡中无显著性差异。卵泡液中甾体激素水平高于外周血7—20.000倍,FSH、LH水平为外周血的10—80％,PRL水平为60％—3倍。     

多巴胺、雌二醇及睾酮对虎纹蛙离体脑垂体促性腺激素分泌的影响 EFFECTS OF DOPAMINE，ESTRADIOL AND TESTOSTERONE ON GONADOT ROPIN RELEASE FROM THE PITUITARYFRAGMENTS OF Rana rugulosa

为了解虎纹蛙促性腺激素分泌的调节机理，用离体静态培育系统和放射免疫测定法，研究了多巴胺(DA)、雌二醇(E[2])和睾酮(T)对雌性虎纹蛙离体脑垂体薄片促黄体激素(LH)和促卵泡激素(FSH)分泌活动的影响。结果表明：0.1-10 μmol/L的DA对成熟前期和冬眠期虎纹蛙离体脑垂体薄片的LH及FSH的释放都有抑制作用，并且随着DA浓度的增加，抑制作用逐渐增强。1和10 μmol/L的E[2]显著刺激成熟前期蛙LH的释放，而0.1-10 μmol/L的E2显著抑制其FSH的释放；T对其FSH的释放无显著影响，但10 μmol/L的T显著抑制其LH释放。0.1-100 μmol/L 的E[2]或T对冬眠期蛙LH和FSH的释放均无显著影响。这些结果说明，多巴胺和性类固醇激素在脑垂体水平上对虎纹蛙LH和FSH的释放有直接的调节作用，而性类固醇激素的作用可能与性腺的发育阶段(季节)有关。     

糖尿病大鼠性腺及外周血中性激素的改变

目的:研究糖尿病大鼠性腺及外周血中性激素的变化。方法:用放射免疫法检测糖尿病(DM)大鼠,正常(NDM)大鼠和STZ大鼠血清性激素含量,同时称取性腺重量,镜检睾丸、前列腺及附睾的组织形态学改变。结果:DM组睾酮水平显著低于NDM组、STZ组(P<0.01);NDM组与STZ组之间,睾酮水平无显著性差异;DM组促黄体生成素(LH)水平显著高于NDM组、STZ组(P<0.01);NDM组与STZ组之间。LH水平无显著性差异;促卵泡刺激素(FSH)水平在各组之间无显著性差异;HE结果显示,DM组性腺显微结构较NDM组及STZ组明显改变。结论:提示DM严重影响大鼠性腺功能及睾酮的合成分泌,并显著降低大鼠血清睾酮含量。     

玛咖醇提取物对更年期大鼠内分泌激素水平的影响

为了研究我国云南引种玛咖的醇提取物对机体更年期内分泌激素水平的影响,本文采用自然衰老大鼠模型,随机分成低、中、高剂量组,阳性和阴性对照组,经过连续经口灌胃给予玛咖醇提取物90 d,测定了大鼠体重变化,比较了各脏器系数,分析了血清内分泌激素包括雌二醇(E2)、黄体生成素(LH)、卵泡刺激素(FSH)、睾酮(T)、孕酮(P)、垂体泌乳素(PRL)的水平。结果显示该玛咖醇提取物可降低更年期大鼠的体重,各干预组的肝脏、脾脏和肾脏系数显著高于阴性对照组;同时玛咖醇提取物可显著提高更年期大鼠血清T浓度,降低LH、P浓度(P0.05);血清E_2、FSH、PRL浓度变化不显著(P0.05)。推测玛咖醇提取物可能通过作用高级中枢调节机体分泌代谢,缓解更年期综合征症状。     

多囊卵巢综合征患者血清抗苗勒管激素与肥胖、胰岛素抵抗程度的相关性分析

目的:探讨多囊卵巢综合征(polycystic ovary syndrome,PCOS)患者血清抗苗勒管激素(anti-Müllerian hormone,AMH)水平与肥胖、胰岛素抵抗(insulin resistance,IR)程度的相关性。方法:选择在我院生殖中心就诊的139名PCOS患者为研究组,并以月经周期正常、因输卵管因素或男性因素导致不孕者48名作为对照组。检测和比较PCOS患者的血清AMH、性激素水平及代谢指标,分析血清AMH水平与PCOS患者肥胖、胰岛素抵抗程度的关系。结果:PCOS组患者体质量指数(body mass index,BMI)、黄体生成素(luteinizing hormone,LH)、睾酮(testosterone,T)、垂体泌乳素(pituitary prolactin PRL)、空腹血糖(fasting plasma glucose,FPG)、空腹胰岛素(fasting insulin,FINS)、稳态模型胰岛素抵抗指数(homenostasis models assessment-insulin resistance index,HOMA-IR)的水平均显著高于对照组(P0.05),PCOS组和对照组年龄、卵泡刺激素(follicle stimulating hormone,FSH)比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。PCOS各表型组的血清AMH浓度、LH/FSH比值均明显高于对照组(P0.05)。肥胖组患者的AMH浓度低于正常体重组,BMI、FPG、FINS、HOMA-IR、甘油三脂(triglycerides,TG)水平均高于正常体重组,LH、LH/FSH、高密度脂蛋白(high density lipoprotein,HDL-C)水平均低于正常体重组(P0.05)。高HOMA-IR组患者的血清AMH浓度、LH、LH/FSH水平均明显低于低HOMA-IR组,BMI、T、FPG、FINS、TG、低密度脂蛋白(low density lipoprotein,LDL-C)水平均高于低HOMA-IR组(P0.05)。PCOS患者血清AMH浓度和BMI及HOMA-IR均存在显著负相关。结论:PCOS患者血清的AMH水平较对照组明显升高,与其肥胖、胰岛素抵抗(IR)程度呈显著负相关。     

不同造模方法对大鼠多囊卵巢综合征模型的影响

目的采用不同方法诱导SD清洁级雌性大鼠多囊卵巢综合征(PCOS)动物模型,造模完成后检测大鼠血清相关激素并观察卵巢局部形态学改变,并探讨其意义。方法分别采用来曲唑、硫酸普拉睾酮钠、硫酸普拉睾酮钠联合HCG诱导大鼠PCO模型,RIA法测定血清LH、FSH、E2、P、T、PRL、INS水平,HE染色后光镜下观察卵巢局部形态。结果A组(对照组)和B组(来曲唑组)比较,B组较A组血清FSH浓度升高,血清P浓度降低,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);B组血清T浓度较A组明显升高,差异有显著统计学意义(P0.01)。D组(硫酸普拉睾酮钠组)与C组(对照组)比较,两组间血清性激素及INS差异无显著性(P0.05)。E组(硫酸普拉睾酮钠联合HCG组)与C组比较,E组血清T浓度、LH/FSH比值较C组升高,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。E组与D组比较,血清P、T浓度升高,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。A、C两组卵巢局部形态基本正常,可见发育成熟的卵泡及优势卵泡,B、D、E三组未见优势卵泡,均可见卵巢多囊样改变。结论使用来曲唑或硫酸普拉睾酮钠联合HCG诱导大鼠PCOS模型,无论在影响血清性激素还是卵巢局部形态学改变方面与临床表现很接近,符合动物PCOS造模要求。     

激素替代周期子宫内膜微创术治疗卵巢早衰的疗效分析

目的:探讨激素替代周期子宫内膜微创术治疗卵巢早衰患者的临床疗效及安全性。方法:选择2013年12月~2015年12月于我院进行治疗的卵巢早衰患者68例,随机分为实验组与对照组,每组34例,实验组患者采用激素替代周期子宫内膜微创术进行治疗,对照组患者服用中药抗衰复巢汤。比较治疗前后两组患者血清卵泡刺激素(FSH)、促黄体生成素(LH)及雌二醇(E2)水平,同时对两组患者的不良反应情况进行统计,治疗结束后比较两组患者的临床疗效。结果:与治疗前相比,两组患者血清FSH、LH水平均降低,E2水平均升高;治疗结束后,与对照组相比,实验组患者血清FSH、LH水平较低,E2水平较高(P0.05),不良反应发生率较低(P0.05),临床总有效率较高(P0.05)。结论:应用激素替代周期子宫内膜微创术可以减少卵巢早衰患者在治疗后的不良反应,提高临床疗效。     

外源褪黑激素对水貂血清主要生殖激素年周期变化的影响

为探究埋植外源褪黑激素（MLT）对水貂血清主要生殖激素年周期变化的影响,实验选用4月龄雌貂和雄貂各72只,分为A、B、C、D组,A组（雌貂）和C组（雄貂）不做任何处理,B组（雌貂）和D组（雄貂）于2018年7月7日至2019年7月7日埋植外源MLT。实验期间,每隔30 d每组随机选取3只水貂,心脏采血并分离血清,共12次。用酶联免疫吸附实验（ELISA）法分别测定雌貂和雄貂血清中主要生殖激素含量。结果表明：（1） A组促性腺激素释放激素（GnRH）、催乳素（PRL）和孕酮（P）除冬季1月处于高水平,其他时间均处于较低水平;夏季在6月出现小高峰,P在7月出现小高峰;促卵泡素（FSH）和促黄体生成素（LH）在秋、冬季先下降后上升且在12月达高水平,春、夏季FSH呈逐渐下降趋势,LH呈先下降后上升趋势;雌二醇（E2）在秋、冬季逐渐上升且在1月达高水平,春、夏季逐渐下降后波动。（2） B组与A组相比较,GnRH分别在10月和1月显著升高（P ≤ 0.05）,且1月极显著升高（P ≤ 0.01）;PRL在1月、2月、6月降低（P ≤ 0.05）;P在10月、6月升高（P ≤ 0.05）,1月降低（P ≤ 0.01）;FSH和LH在10月显著上升（P ≤ 0.05）,且FSH极显著上升（P ≤ 0.01）,但FSH在1-2月降低（P ≤ 0.05）,LH在3月显著上升（P ≤ 0.05）。（3） C组睾酮（T）仅在冬季1月上升至高水平;C组与D组相比较,T仅在1月降低（P ≤ 0.01）。由此得出,外源MLT能使1月GnRH浓度提高,PRL、P、T的浓度降低,使FSH和LH浓度于10月提前达峰值,E2于11月提前达峰值。埋植MLT导致雄性和雌性水貂发情时间不一致,因而此法并不适于种貂繁殖。     

多囊卵巢综合征患者血清HSP70、IMA水平的变化及与性激素和氧化应激的相关性研究

目的:探讨多囊卵巢综合征(PCOS)患者血清热休克蛋白70(HSP70)、缺血修饰白蛋白(IMA)水平的变化及与性激素指标和氧化应激指标的相关性。方法:选择2017年6月~2018年6月华中科技大学同济医学院附属同济医院收治的未经治疗的初诊PCOS患者87例为PCOS组,另随机选择同期在本院进行体检的健康育龄妇女87例为对照组,比较两组血清HSP70、IMA、性激素指标、氧化应激指标,分析血清HSP70、IMA水平与性激素、氧化应激的相关性。结果:PCOS组患者血清卵泡刺激素(FSH)、促黄体生成素(LH)、睾酮(T)、8-异前列腺素F2α(8-isoPGF2α)、丙二醛(MDA)、HSP70、IMA水平显著高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);PCOS组患者血清超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、谷胱甘肽过氧化酶(GSH-Px)水平低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);PCOS组血清雌二醇(E2)、泌乳素(PRL)水平与对照组比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。PCOS患者血清HSP70、IMA水平与血清FSH、LH、T、8-iso PGF2α、MDA水平呈正相关关系,与SOD、GSH-Px水平呈负相关关系(P<0.05),与E2、PRL水平无显著相关性(P>0.05)。结论:血清HSP70、IMA水平在PCOS患者呈现异常升高,其水平改变与性激素及氧化应激水平密切相关,提示HSP70、IMA可能参与了PCOS的病理过程,临床检测HSP70、IMA的水平变化有可能为PCOS诊疗提供有效的预测作用。     

基础卵泡刺激素水平对IVF/ICSI-ET超排卵周期卵巢反应

目的：基础卵泡刺激素(bFSH)可以刺激精子生成和促进卵子成熟,是人体内重要的激素之一。本研究针对体外受精(IVF)周 期bFSH 水平的变化情况,探讨bFSH对卵巢反应的预测价值,为临床研究提供理论基础。方法：回顾性分析2012 年1 月-2012 年 12 月在我院生殖医学中心接受体外受精- 胚胎移植(IVF-ET)治疗的154例患者的临床资料,根据基础卵泡刺激素水平分为A 组 (bFSH≥10 IU/L)、B 组(8≤bFSH≤10 IU/L)和C 组(bFSH<8 IU/L)。对比分析三组对象的年龄、基础窦卵泡数(bAFC)、黄体生成素 (LH)含量、FSH/LH 值、促性腺激素(Gn)的用量、使用时间、受精率及临床妊娠率等。结果：三组患者的年龄、bAFC 及FSH/LH相比 较,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);三组的Gn 用量和时间、获卵数及妊娠率比较,差异显著且具有统计学意义(P<0.05);三组基础 LH 值及超排卵周期受精率无显著差异(P>0.05)。结论：基础卵泡刺激素(bFSH)对体外受精女性的卵巢储备功能具有一定的预测 价值,bFSH 水平的高低可作为预测女性不孕患者超排卵周期卵巢反应性的一项重要指标,值得临床推广和应用。     

Age-dependent effect of Freund's adjuvant on 24-hour rhythms in plasma prolactin, growth hormone, thyrotropin, insulin, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and testosterone in rats

The effect of Freund's adjuvant administration on 24-hour changes of plasma prolactin, growth hormone (GH), thyrotropin (TSH), insulin, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone were studied in young (2 months) and aged (18 months) male Wistar rats. Rats were injected s.c. with Freund's adjuvant or adjuvant's vehicle and, 18 days later, they were killed at 6 different time intervals throughout a 24-hour cycle to measure circulating hormone levels by specific RIAs. Young rats receiving adjuvant's vehicle exhibited significant time-of-day-dependent variations in plasma TSH, LH and testosterone, with maximal levels at 1300 h, 0100 h and 1700 h, respectively. Prolactin and insulin levels, analyzed globally in a factorial ANOVA, showed significant time-of-day changes with maximal levels at 1300 - 1700 h and 2100 h, respectively. The daily rhythms in plasma LH and testosterone found in young rats were not longer observed in Freund's adjuvant-injected rats, while as far as TSH, a second peak was observed at 0100 h after Freund's adjuvant administration. Twenty-four hour rhythms in circulating TSH, LH and testosterone were blunted in old rats receiving either Freund's adjuvant or its vehicle. Aged rats exhibited significantly higher circulating levels of prolactin, and lower levels of GH, TSH, FSH and testosterone. The results indicate that secretion of prolactin, GH, TSH, FSH and testosterone are age-dependent, as are the responses of TSH, LH and testosterone to Freund's adjuvant administration.     

On the correlation between FSH, LH and prolactin serum levels.

In 188 males FSH, LH, and prolactin serum levels determined from a single blood sample were found to be closely correlated. No correlation appeared to testosterone levels. The same correlation is observed, if serum levels of FSH, LH, and prolactin are measured after stimulation with LH-RH and TRH. In order to explain the close correlation, in five young men hormone levels were measured at 2-min-intervals over a period of 2 hours. Peaks of prolactin often correspond to those of FSH and LH, and a statistical correlation was found in two cases between FSH and prolactin. Results suggest a common releasing mechanism, which is superposed to the main mediating mechanism.     

Effect of prolonged incubation of male rat whole pituitary or pituitary-hypothalamus complex with testosterone on release of gonadotrophin and prolactin in vitro.

Investigations were undertaken to study the effect of in vitro addition of testosterone (0.3 mM) on the release of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin (PRL) by pituitary-hypothalamus complex (PHC) or the whole pituitary (PI) incubated for 72 hr, with incubation media changed every 24 hr. PHC or PI were from adult intact or castrated (7 days post castration) rats. The tissues incubated with or without testosterone were further exposed to 0.1 nM luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) for 4 hr. Incubation media and the pituitary were analyzed for PRL and gonadotrophin content. While PHC from normal and castrated rats released increasing amounts of LH with diminishing amounts of FSH and PRL at different periods of incubation, PI showed a decrease in the amounts of gonadotrophin and PRL released. Co-incubation of PHC or PI of intact or castrated rats with testosterone stimulated the release of LH and FSH during the first or second-24 hr incubation but inhibited the release of PRL in all the three incubations of 24 hr each. The extent of PRL inhibition increased with increasing incubation period. Testosterone had no effect on LHRH induced release of PRL but inhibited LHRH induced release of LH and FSH by pituitaries from constructs of normal rats. Testosterone reduced intrapituitary contents of PRL and FSH of intact and castrated rats. The data are interpreted to suggest that hypothalamus is essential for the maintenance of functional pituitary in vitro and that intrinsic differences exist in mechanisms regulating the secretion of LH, FSH and PRL.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Menstrual disturbances in chronic renal failure.

Twelve female patients undergoing intermittent hemodialysis (HD) and 5 females posttransplantation (PT) were studied. All the HD patients had menstrual disturbances and 5 had galactorrhea. The mean basal LH level was significantly elevated (p less than .05) in patients on HD compared to normal controls, but the mean LH response to luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LRH) was not significantly different from the control group. Mean basal FSH and the FSH response to LRH was normal. In the PT pateints the LH response to LRH was significantly greater at 120 min when compared to normal females. In the HD group the serum 17B estradiol, progesterone and testosterone levels were significantly lower than in the controls but in the PT group only testosterone levels were significantly lower. These results differ from those previously found in uremic males. Elevated prolactin levels were found in the patients on hemodialysis and correlated well with the presence of galactorrhea. These was no correlation between the elevated prolactin levels and amenorrhea in the patients on hemodialysis but one PT patient with amenorrhea had elevated prolactin levels.     

24-Hour Changes in Circulating Prolactin,Follicle-Stimulating Hormone,Luteinizing Hormone,and Testosterone in Young Male Rats Subjected to Calorie Restriction

This work analyzes the effect of calorie restriction on the 24 h variation of pituitary-testicular function in young male Wistar rats by measuring the circulating levels of prolactin, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone. Control animals were provided an equilibrium calorie diet and the experimental animals a calorie-restriction diet equivalent to 66% of food restriction for four weeks starting on day 35 of life. Different groups of control and experimental rats were killed at 6 h intervals around the clock, beginning 1 h after light on (HALO). Compared to the control animals, the mean secretion of prolactin was augmented and that of LH and testosterone decreased in calorie-restricted rats, whereas FSH release remained unchanged. Significant changes in the 24 h secretory pattern of circulating prolactin, LH, and testosterone occurred in the calorie-restricted rats. These include the appearance of a second maximum of plasma prolactin at 21 HALO, blunting of the LH peak seen at 13 HALO, and phase-shift of the testosterone peak from 13 HALO in controls to 17 HALO in calorie-restricted rats. The significant positive correlation between individual LH and testosterone levels found in controls was no longer observed in calorie-restricted rats. Availability of nutrients presumably affects the mechanisms that modulate the circadian variation of the pituitary-gonadal axis in growing male rats.     

24-hour changes in circulating prolactin, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and testosterone in young male rats subjected to calorie restriction

This work analyzes the effect of calorie restriction on the 24 h variation of pituitary-testicular function in young male Wistar rats by measuring the circulating levels of prolactin, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone. Control animals were provided an equilibrium calorie diet and the experimental animals a calorie-restriction diet equivalent to 66% of food restriction for four weeks starting on day 35 of life. Different groups of control and experimental rats were killed at 6 h intervals around the clock, beginning 1 h after light on (HALO). Compared to the control animals, the mean secretion of prolactin was augmented and that of LH and testosterone decreased in calorie-restricted rats, whereas FSH release remained unchanged. Significant changes in the 24 h secretory pattern of circulating prolactin, LH, and testosterone occurred in the calorie-restricted rats. These include the appearance of a second maximum of plasma prolactin at 21 HALO, blunting of the LH peak seen at 13 HALO, and phase-shift of the testosterone peak from 13 HALO in controls to 17 HALO in calorie-restricted rats. The significant positive correlation between individual LH and testosterone levels found in controls was no longer observed in calorie-restricted rats. Availability of nutrients presumably affects the mechanisms that modulate the circadian variation of the pituitary-gonadal axis in growing male rats.     

Effects of unilateral castration on serum luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, and testosterone concentrations in one-, two-, and three-year-old stallions

The endocrine control of compensatory hypertrophy was investigated in 12 Morgan stallions, four each at one, two and three years of age. Half were assigned to be unilaterally castrated (UC) in January and half to remain intact (IN). Nine blood samples were taken from each stallion at half-hour intervals 30, 90, and 150 d after unilateral castration for radioimmunoassay of serum concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and testosterone. Mean serum LH concentration was greater (P<0.06) in UC than IN stallions; however, the difference was greatest at 30 d and least at 150 d. Serum LH was greater (P<0.01) in two- and three-year-olds than in one-year-olds. The mean log(10) for serum FSH concentration was greater (P<0.06) in UC than IN stallions. Mean serum testosterone concentrations were similar in UC and IN stallions for all sample days, suggesting that the single testes of the UC stallions produced as much testosterone as the two testes of the IN stallions. Two- and three-year-old stallions had greater (P<0.01) serum testosterone than one-year-old stallions. Unilateral castration of stallions was associated with a significant increase in serum LH and FSH concentrations and, perhaps, higher intratesticular testosterone, which may explain, in part, the compensatory hypertrophy noted in the remaining testis.     

Reproductive effects of olfactory bulbectomy in the Syrian hamster

The effects of olfactory bulbectomy on circulating gonadotropin, prolactin and testosterone levels and on the testicular and pituitary responses to shortening of day length were studied in Syrian hamsters. Adult animals maintained on a 14L:10D cycle were sham-operated or sustained bilateral radical olfactory bulbectomies by aspiration to remove the main and accessory olfactory bulbs and the adjacent regions of the anterior olfactory nucleus. They were then maintained either on the long photoperiod or housed on a 10L:14D cycle. Testicular length was measured at weekly intervals over a 5-mo period. Sham-operated controls exhibited the normal pattern of testicular regression and eventual recrudescence on the short photoperiod. Testicular regression was significantly reduced in bulbectomized animals. Many of these animals showed no regression; others exhibited a reduced degree and/or shortened duration of regression. Serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were substantially elevated in bulbectomized males maintained in long days. Their serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin and testosterone remained within the range for shams on long photoperiod. In short days, the bulbectomized animals showed the normal, pronounced decline in circulating prolactin levels. Serum FSH and LH levels also showed substantial declines, but the FSH levels were not reduced below the range for controls in long days, and the decline in LH levels was not as great as that for controls in short days.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Beta-endorphin/beta-lipotropin release and gonadotropin secretion after acute exercise in physically conditioned males

beta-endorphin (beta-EP) and beta-lipotropin (beta-LPH) concentrations were measured in the basal state and after acute exercise for 15 min or until exhaustion in 6 physically conditioned male volunteers. Serum concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone and prolactin were also measured in the basal state. In addition, the concentrations of the gonadotropins (LH and FSH) were determined after exercise and the gonadotropin response to gonadotropin releasing hormone was assessed before and after exercise. The data show that acute exercise stimulates the release of both beta-EP and beta-LPH which return to base-line levels within 60 min after exercise. This is in contrast to our previously described results in physically unconditioned male volunteers in whom only beta-LPH release was noted after exercise. Serum LH concentrations declined after exercise reaching nadir values between 60 to 150 min after exercise. As we previously reported in physically unconditioned male volunteers, serum FSH concentrations did not change with exercise and the gonadotropin response to LRH stimulation was uninfluenced by exercise. Serum testosterone and prolactin concentration were within the normal range for healthy adult males. We speculate that the difference in beta-EP release with exercise in physically conditioned and unconditioned males represents a difference in processing of the opioid precursor molecule (pro-opiomelanocortin, POMC) in the two groups.     

Body composition characteristics, sex hormone levels and circadian gonadotropin fluctuations in infertile young women

The present study dealt with the interaction between body composition estimated by means of dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, sex-specific fat distribution and sex hormone levels (LH, FSH, estradiol, prolactin, DHEA-S, androstendione, testosterone and SHBG) as well as LH and FSH fluctuations in infertile young women ageing between 18 and 30 years (x = 23.4 yr). Twenty patients suffered from polycystic ovaries (PCO), 15 women suffering from a mild anorexia nervosa were amenorrhoeic for more than one year. Marked associations between estradiol, testosterone, SHBG as well as the FSH output and body fat, bone mass and fat distribution were documented. PCO patients exhibited a high weight status and a typical android fat distribution which signals infertility comparable to postmenopausal women. In contrast, although anorexia patients had pathological decreased estrogen levels and were infertile at the time of investigation, their fat distribution was be classified as 'ypergynoid' and signals potential reproductive capability after a sufficient weight gain.