Hormone changes during the menstrual cycle of Chinese women

The concentrations of LH, FSH, prolactin, oestradiol and progesterone in serum were measured daily during the menstrual cycle of 100 normal Chinese women. The cyclic changes in LH, FSH, oestradiol and progesterone were typical of ovulatory cycles in women of other ethnic groups as reported in the literature. The geometric mean of the LH midcycle peak value was 51 X 64 i.u./l, the FSH mid-cycle peak value was 11 X 52 i.u./l, the preovulatory oestradiol peak was 1229 X 12 pmol/l, and the progesterone luteal maximum was 53 X 27 nmol/l. The cyclic changes of prolactin concentrations were irregular: the value at mid-cycle was significantly higher than that at the follicular or luteal phases. A correlation between the length of the cycle and mean concentrations of LH and oestradiol at different stages throughout the cycle was shown.     

Serum levels of gonadotropins and gonadal steroids,including testosterone,during the menstrual cycle of the chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes)

The objective of this study was to expand the data on menstrual cycle serum hormone patterns in female common chimpanzees, both in terms of the number of cycles analyzed and by the addition of data on testosterone levels. Samples were obtained from 11 unanesthetized animals trained for conscious blood withdrawal. LH, FSH, 17β-estradiol (E₂), progesterone (P), and testosterone (T) were measured by radioimmunoassay, genital swelling was recorded, and menstrual blood was noted. Concurrent midcycle elevations in LH and FSH and luteal phase elevations in progesterone suggested that the cycles were ovulatory. Detumescence of genital swelling occurred about 3 days after the midcycle LH peak, 1 day after the luteal phase nadir in E₂, and 1 day after P levels exceeded 5 ng/ml. These relationships provide further support for the use of genital swelling in monitoring progress of the menstrual cycle. The hormone patterns in the chimpanzees closely resembled those of the human females, but E₂ and T levels were higher. The levels of E₂ and T were higher and the midcycle elevation in T was broader in the chimpanzee than in gorillas and orangutans. This is of interest because E₂ and T are implicated in the regulation of mating, and chimpanzees mate over a greater portion of the cycle than the other apes. These data indicate the need for further study of hormonal contributions to the different patterns of mating in the great apes. They also support the use of the female common chimpanzee as a model for the human female in endocrine studies of the menstrual cycle.     

Relationship between adenohypophyseal and steroid hormones and variations in serum and urinary melatonin levels during the ovarian cycle, perimenopause and menopause in healthy women

Morning levels of serum melatonin, FSH, LH, prolactin (PRL), progesterone and estradiol were studied by RIA during the ovarian cycle, perimenopause and menopause in 79 healthy women. FSH and LH levels showed a slight nonsignificant increase from the fertile period to perimenopause, exhibiting a significantly greater increase during menopause. PRL, progesterone and estradiol showed parallel changes, reaching lower levels during menopause. Serum melatonin levels decreased with age, attaining minimum levels in menopause. FSH and estradiol were significantly correlated with melatonin in the follicular phase, while in the luteal phase a negative correlation was found between melatonin, progesterone and estradiol. No significant correlations were noted between serum hormone levels during the perimenopausal period. In menopause, as during the follicular phase, melatonin and FSH were negatively correlated. As expected, a significant positive correlation was found between morning serum levels of melatonin and nocturnal urinary excretion of this indoleamine in all groups studied.     

In vitro effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) on ovarian, pituitary, and pineal function in pigs

The aims of the study were: (1) to examine 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and/or prolactin (PRL) effects on in vitro secretion of progesterone (P₄) and estradiol (E₂) by luteinized granulosa and theca cells from porcine preovulatory follicles; and (2) to determine the effects of TCDD on PRL, luteinizing hormone (LH), and melatonin luteal phase in pigs. We found that TCDD itself did not affect progesterone secretion, but it abolished the stimulatory effect of PRL in the follicular cells. TCDD stimulated PRL secretion during the luteal phase and inhibited during the follicular phase. Moreover, TCDD increased luteinizing hormone secretion by pituitary cells during the follicular phase. In contrast to protein and steroid hormones, melatonin secretion in vitro was not affected by TCDD. In conclusion, it was found that the pituitary-ovarian axis in pigs is sensitive to TCDD, and the dioxin exhibited a profound ability to disrupt the ovarian actions of prolactin.     

Hormonal Responses to Synthetic Luteinizing Hormone and Follicle Stimulating Hormone-Releasing Hormone in Man

The effects of the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone, synthetic decapeptide luteinizing hormone/follicle stimulating hormone-releasing hormone (LH/FSH-RH), have been studied in 18 normal men and five women in the follicular phase of their menstrual cycle. Rapid and dose-dependent (25 to 100 μg) increases in serum immunoreactive LH were seen, which reached a peak 20 to 30 minutes after a rapid intravenous injection. Similar but much smaller increases in serum immunoreactive FSH were seen. These conclusions have been validated by using two different immunoassay systems for each hormone. The LH/FSH-RH therefore causes both LH and FSH release in man as in animals but does not affect growth hormone, thyrotrophin, or ACTH. The gonadotrophin responses were the same in the women as in the men but were insufficient in the men to cause statistically significant changes in the serum levels of the gonadal steroid hormones, testosterone or oestradiol, or in their precursors 17 α-hydroxyprogesterone or progesterone. In the women, however, there was a rise in oestradiol after the 100-μg doses. The use of LH/FSH-RH will provide an important test to define the level of the lesion in hypogonadal patients and also should be valuable in the treatment of some types of male and female infertility. A simple and clinically useful LH/FSH-RH test of pituitary function is described (100 μg given intravenously), and the provisional normal responses of LH and FSH at 20 and 60 minutes are given.     

Effect of an LHRH Analog on Growth and Hormone Receptor Levels in DMBA-Induced Mammary Tumors in the Rat

Abstract

Dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary tumors in the rat are well known to be hormono-dependent. Daily injections of an LHRH agonist, [D-Ala⁶, des-Gly-NH₂¹⁰]LHRH ethylamide (LHRH-A), 1 ug daily, for 38 days results in a 35% decrease in the number of tumors present at the beginning of the experiment compared to a decline of 45% after ovariectomy and of 8% in the control group. This is accompanied by a marked reduction in ovarian LH and FSH receptors. LHRH-A treatment also resulted in reduction in the number of progesterone and prolactin receptors in the tumors. In addition, an increase in plasma LH and FSH and a decline in plasma prolactin (PRL) concentrations are observed. The mechanisms by which the LHRH agonist induces its antitumoral effect probably relate to an ovarian desensitization to LH and FSH with a concomitant decrease in circulating levels of estrogen and prolactin, two well known stimuli for the growth of DMBA-induced mammary tumors.     

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

In order to elucidate the relationship between prolactin (PRL) levels and corpus luteum 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.     

Post partum patterns of circulating FSH, LH, prolactin, estradiol, and progesterone in nonsuckling cynomolgus monkeys.

Circulating levels of FSH, LH, prolactin (Prl), estradiol (E), and progesterone (P) were determined by RIA in four intact and four monkeys luteectomized (CLX) at parturition in order to a) characterize the patterns of these hormones during the puerperium, and b) examine a possible inhibitory role of the "rejuvenated" corpus luteum (CL) on the resumption of follicle growth post partum. In both groups during the first four weeks, FSH and LH were at tonic levels typical of ovulatory cycles. Recurrent puerperal "surges" of FSH, but not LH, unaccompanied by increments in serum E, were observed in both intact and CLX monkeys. No consistent pattern of serum Prl was apparent. CLX was followed by a prompt fall in serum P levels, which were elevated above typical follicular phase levels into the second week post partum in intact monkeys. Menstrual cycles resumed 2-4 months after delivery. Hormonal patterns during the first menstrual cycle post partum were indistinguishable from those observed in pregravidic ovulatory cycles. The findings indicate that in nonsuckling cynomolgus monkeys a) although it secretes progesterone, the puerperal CL does not inhibit the resumption of the ovarian cycle post partum, b) the puerperal ovary is not absolutely refractory to gonadotropins, since initial trials with Pergonal + hCG stimulated ovarian function, and c) ovarian activity during the puerperium may be limited by factors other than the tonic supply of gonadotropins.     

Perioestrous patterns of circulating LH,FSH, prolactin and oestradiol-17β in the gilt

Concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin (PRL) were measured in jugular blood and those of oestradiol-17β (E₂17β) in utero-ovarian blood. Samples were taken from five intact gilts every 15 min for 108 h starting between day 15 and day 18 of the oestrous cycle. In the late luteal/early follicular phase, high pulsatile LH secretion, close to one pulse per hour, was observed. This could be the stimulus necessary for the final maturation of the ovarian follicles.Thereafter, frequency and amplitude of pulses, and the baseline value, decreased and were low at least between 36 and 12 h before the preovulatory LH surge. PRL and FSH concentrations also declined. This was probably due to the increase of oestrogen secretion. As E₂17β concentrations were still high, the surge of LH which was accompanied by increase in FSH and PRL, occurred for approximately 13 to 20 h. While LH and PRL mean levels decreased, FSH concentrations continued to increase. Peaks of PRL were observed during the late luteal/early follicular phase and during the LH discharge. During the period of estrus, each exposure to the boar was immediately followed by one of these peaks, which could play a role in the sexual behavior of the gilt.     

Cortisol and hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis hormones in follicular-phase women with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome and effect of depressive symptoms on these hormones

We investigated abnormalities of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis and cortisol concentrations in women with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) who were in the follicular phase of their menstrual cycle, and whether their scores for depressive symptoms were related to levels of these hormones. A total of 176 subjects participated – 46 healthy volunteers, 68 patients with fibromyalgia, and 62 patients with CFS. We examined concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol, progesterone, prolactin, and cortisol. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Cortisol levels were significantly lower in patients with fibromyalgia or CFS than in healthy controls (P < 0.05); there were no significant differences in other hormone levels between the three groups.     

四川成都市郊正常成年男性血清生殖激素水平及其频数分布

本文用放射免疫测定法(RIA),测定了200～290例中国四川成都市郊30～73岁的正常成年男性血清睾酮(T)促黄体激素(LH).卵泡刺激素(FSH)及泌乳激素(PRL)的水平及其分布,进行了不同年龄水平差异显著性的观察,见到睾酮与泌乳激素水平无显著差异,促黄体激素及卵泡刺激素水平,随年龄之增加而升高,差异有显著性,并测得它们在血清中水平的分布:LH、FSH及PRL均为对数正态公布,T既非正态又非对数正态,但其频率分布较对称,接近正态分布。     

Effect of the variations of female sex hormones during the menstrual cycle upon serum somatomedin and growth-promoting activity

Serum growth-promoting activity measured upon lymphocytes, sulfation activity and radioimmunoassayable somatomedin C (Sm-C) levels were measured in sera from women during the menstrual cycle. The data showed that: estradiol, progesterone, LH or FSH added in vitro do not increase the 3H-thymidine uptake into lymphocytes; the serum thymidine activity decreases during the luteal stage of the cycle, and is negatively correlated with the progesterone levels; the sulfation factor and Sm-C levels do not have significant variations during the menstrual cycle, and the GH maximum values are attained during the luteal stage.     

促排卵周期中未破裂黄素化卵泡综合征与性激素的关系探讨

目的:对未破裂黄素化卵泡综合征(LUFS)周期及正常排卵周期患者在不同时间性激素进行测定与比较,探讨LUFS的发生与性激素的关系。方法:对自然周期有排卵障碍的患者使用克罗米芬+HCG促排,分别在月经周期的第3天(C3)、第10天(C10)、卵泡成熟日(CM)(卵泡直径≥18mm)、尿LH阳性或注射HCG后48小时(CL)进行性激素测定,根据患者是否有排卵分为:正常排卵组(A组);未排卵出现LUFS组(B组)。选择同期自然周期正常排卵者为对照组(C组),同上法进行性激素测定。对A、B、C组患者不同时间的血清性激素进行比较。结果:1、FSH:在CM日A、B两组的促卵泡成熟激素(FSH)均低于C组(P<0.01)。2、LH:在C3、C10、CL日测定的A、B组LH值均高于C组(P<0.01),在CM日测定的A、B组LH值低于C组(P<0.01)。3、P:在CM日A、B两组的孕酮值低于C组(P<0.01);4、E2:在C3日测定的B组E2值低于C组(P<0.01),在CL日测定的B组E2值高于C组(P<0.01);5、PRL:在不同时间各组的PRL值均无显著性差异(P>0.05)。6、T:在不同时间各组的T值均无显著性差异(P>0.05)。结论:性激素在LUFS的发生中起重要作用,但以C3日E2值与LUFS的发生的关系最大,E2值低者易发生LUFS。     

睡眠障碍通过下丘脑-垂体-卵巢轴影响女性生育能力的临床研究

摘要 目的：探究睡眠障碍是如何通过下丘脑-垂体-卵巢轴影响女性生育能力的。方法：选择2018年10月至2021年10月于我院妇科内分泌科就诊的育龄期女性80例作为研究对象,根据匹兹堡睡眠质量指数量表（PSQI）评估结果,将所有研究对象按照是否存在睡眠障碍分为睡眠障碍组（n=34例）和非睡眠障碍组（n=46例）。对比分析两组PSQI评分,血清性激素水平,月经周期,生育能力,通过Pearson法分析睡眠障碍与女性生育能力的相关性。结果：（1）睡眠障碍组PSQI总分以及睡眠质量、入睡时间、睡眠时间、睡眠效率、睡眠障碍和日间功能障碍各方面得分均显著高于对照组（P<0.05）;（2）睡眠障碍组卵泡刺激素（FSH）、黄体生成素（LH）较非睡眠障碍组升高,而雌二醇（E₂）水平低于非睡眠障碍组（P<0.05）;（3）两组月经周期比较,睡眠障碍组月经紊乱比例显著高于对照组（P<0.05）;（4）两组生育能力比较,睡眠障碍组生育能力显著低于对照组（P<0.05）。（5）睡眠障碍与FSH和LH均存在负相关性,和E₂存在正相关（P<0.05）。结论：睡眠障碍可减弱下丘脑-垂体-卵巢轴的驱动,导致卵泡刺激素释放缓慢,延长了月经周期,并导致黄体功能下降,增加了未受孕或者再次异位妊娠的发生率。     

Does the hypothalamic tyrosine-hydroxylase inhibition mediate the positive feedback of progesterone on gonadotropin release in women?

Neuropharmacological studies suggest a common inhibitory role for the hypothalamic dopaminergic pathway on gonadotropin and prolactin pituitary release, in humans. As a consequence, it has been hypothesized that the inhibition of hypothalamic tyrosine-hydroxylase and the subsequent fall in dopamine synthesis is involved in the positive feedback of progesterone on LH and PRL pituitary release in estrogen-primed hypogonadal women. The aim of our study was to verify whether an inhibition of tyrosine-hydroxylase may really account for the progesterone action on gonadotropin and prolactin secretion. For this purpose, we compared the effect of a specific tyrosine-hydroxylase inhibitor (alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine, AMPT) with the effect of progesterone on gonadotropin and prolactin release in estrogen-primed postmenopausal women. Progesterone induced a marked release of LH (delta: 129.7 +/- 16.5 mlU/ml, mean +/- SE) and a slight increase in FSH (delta: 39.4 +/- 11.6 mlU/ml) and PRL (delta: 15.3 +/- 2.8 ng/ml) serum levels. Acute or two-day administration of AMPT was followed by a marked rise in PRL serum levels (delta: 82.9 +/- 13.8 and 88.3 +/- 8.2 ng/ml, respectively) while there were no significant increases in serum LH (delta: 5.4 +/- 2.6 and 3.3 +/- 4.6 mlU/ml) and FSH (delta: 3.4 +/- 0.9 and -0.4 +/- 2.9) concentrations. The ineffectiveness of a specific tyrosine-hydroxylase inhibitor in simulating the progesterone effect on gonadotropin secretion seems to negate the hypothesis that a reduction in hypothalamic dopaminergic activity mediates the positive feedback of progesterone on gonadotropin release.     

Plasma FSH,LH, prolactin and progesterone profiles of Cheviot ewes with different levels of intake before and after mating,and associated effects on reproductive performance

Patterns of secretion of FSH, LH and prolactin were investigated in the luteal and follicular phases of the cycle prior to mating in Cheviot ewes on high and low intakes (approximately 3.0 and 0.8 kg DM per head per day) during the weeks before mating. Ewes on the high intake had a higher mean ovulation rate (1.95 vs 1.40; P < 0.01) and higher mean potential litter size (1.75 vs 1.00; P < 0.001) as determined at slaughter 3 weeks after mating.No significant differences associated with intake were observed in the endocrine profiles during the luteal phase of the cycle before mating, indicating that differences in reproductive performance were not mediated by changes in endocrine profiles in this period. However, during periods of the subsequent follicular phase, ewes on a high intake had a higher LH pulse frequency, higher mean prolactin levels and non-significantly higher FSH levels. The preovulatory peaks of these hormones were not altered by the level of intake but the mean peak values for prolactin and LH were significantly higher in ewes with multiple ovulations than in those with single ovulations. Differences in endocrine status prior to mating were not associated with differences in luteal function after mating, as measured by circulating progesterone levels. However, mean progesterone levels were higher in ewes on a low intake after mating compared with those on a high intake.     

Rhythms in the ovulatory cycle. 2nd: LH, FSH, estradiol and progesterone

The circadian profiles of LH, FSH, estradiol and progesterone were compared in a homogeneous group of 15 young normally cycling women, at 4 well characterized times of the menstrual cycle: early follicular (EF), late follicular (LF), early luteal (EL) and late luteal (LL) stages. The circatrigintan profiles of the same hormones were also evaluated. Population-mean cosinor analysis failed to demonstrate a circadian periodicity of LH in any of the 4 stages of the menstrual cycle; a circadian rhythm for FSH was present only in the 2 luteal phases (EL, LL); the same type of rhythmicity was present for estradiol only in the late luteal stage; on the contrary, a highly significant circadian rhythm of progesterone was present in each of the 4 menstrual stages considered (EF, LF, EL and LL). Population-mean cosinor analysis showed a highly significant circatrigintan periodicity of LH and FSH with the acrophases respectively between -109 degrees and -181 degrees and between -74 degrees and -125 degrees. Circatrigintan rhythmicity was also present for estradiol (acrophases between -161 degrees and -245 degrees) and progesterone (acrophases between -246 degrees and -296 degrees).     

Simultaneous determination of plasma estrogens, androgens, and progesterone during the human menstrual cycle

A method is described for the purification and quantitation of estradiol-17β (E₂), estrone (E₁), testosterone (T), androstenedione (A) and progesterone (P) from a single plasma sample extraction. A combination of Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography and thin layer chromatography is used to separate the phenolic and neutral steroids; quantitation of the purified steroids is by radioimmunoassay (E₂, E₁) and competitive protein binding (T,A,P) techniques. The precision and accuracy of this method is comparable with that reported by others. A preliminary investigation of the temporal relationship between estrogens androgens, progesterone and serum LH during five normal and one short luteal phase menstrual cycle is presented.     

Inhibitory effect of obesity on gonadotropin, estradiol, and inhibin B levels in fertile women

Objective: To examine whether obesity and insulin resistance have an independent effect on the gonadotropin, estradiol, and inhibin B serum levels and follicle count in the early follicular phase of fertile women with a wide range of BMI and without signs of hyperandrogenism. Research Methods and Procedures: Twenty‐two overweight and obese (BMI ≥25.0 kg/m²) women and 10 normal‐weight (BMI <25.0 kg/m²) women, all having apparently normal fertility, were studied. Serum concentrations of follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol, inhibin B, and insulin, level of insulin resistance (estimated by homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance), and follicle count were measured during the early follicular phase (Days 2 to 5 of the menstrual cycle). Results: Overweight women showed lower FSH (p < 0.001), LH (p < 0.001), and inhibin B (p < 0.05) levels compared with normal‐weight women, whereas estradiol concentrations and follicle count were not significantly different between the two groups. When normal‐weight and overweight women were examined as a group and multiple regression analyses were performed, estradiol showed a negative association with BMI (or waist circumference) (p < 0.05) and a positive correlation with LH (p < 0.05) and FSH (p < 0.05); inhibin B maintained a positive association only with estradiol (p < 0.05); and FSH and LH showed a negative correlation with BMI (or waist circumference) (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively). Discussion: Overweight and obese fertile women have lower FSH, LH, inhibin B, and estradiol levels in the early follicular phase, with a possible direct inhibitory effect of body mass on gonadotropin and estradiol production, independently of age, insulin (concentrations and sensitivity), and other hormones. By contrast, the number of ovary follicles does not seem to be influenced by insulin and body mass in these patients.     

Seasonality and the melatonin signal in relation to age as correlated to the sexual cycle of the one-humped male camel (Camelus dromedarius)

Heparinized blood samples were taken from male immature and mature camels of the Sha'alah breed, housed at the University Animal farm, during the rutting and non-rutting period. Other blood samples were also collected from camels slaughtered at defined seasons (summer, autumn, winter and spring) and from the Buraydah slaughter-house. In addition, specimens from the testes were also taken to confirm the difference between the immature and the mature animals during the non-rutting and rutting seasons. The plasma obtained from the collected blood samples was used for estimation of the following hormones, Melatonin (MLT), Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Leutinizing Hormone (LH), Testosterone and Prolactin (PRL) using the radioimmunoassay technique. Specimens of testes tissue were fixed in calcium formol, processed for histological examination using standard procedures and stained with H&E. The results clearly differentiated the samples as immature and mature during the non-rutting and rutting seasons. Commercially available human radioimmunoassay (RIA) kits for MLT, FSH, LH, testosterone and PRL were adapted for quantitation of these hormones in serum from the one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius). Serum samples from 40 camels were assayed in order to determine possible differences between various groups in the concentrations of MLT, FSH, LH, testosterone and PRL in these animals. Among the camels, serum concentrations of melatonin, FSH, LH, testosterone and prolactin reflected age and seasonal differences. Immature camels had overall significantly lower levels in MLT, FSH, LH, testosterone and PRL. Mean FSH and LH levels from confirmed non-rutting (sexually inactive) camels were 0.22 ± 0.08 and 0.37 ± 0.18 ng/mL, respectively. Although rutting (sexually active) camels had higher FSH and LH levels, the differences were not statistically significant (P less than 0.07). Our observations indicate that these RIAs can reliably detect serum MLT, FSH, LH, testosterone and PLT from camels and represent the first quantitation of melatonin in Camilidae in correlation with FSH, LH, testosterone and prolactin.