Evaluation of LH, FSH, TSH, Prl, and GH secretion in patients suffering from prostatic neoplasms

The concentration of luteinizing hormone (LH), of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), of prolactin (Prl) and of growth hormone (GH) was evaluated, in basal conditions and during stimulation tests, in serum of 32 patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), of 29 patients suffering from prostatic carcinoma and of a control group of similar age. Significant difference in pituitary Prl secretion was found between the prostatic patients and the control group.     

GH, ACTH, TSH, LH, and FSH reserve in pre pubertal girls with congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

The pituitary reserve of GH, ACTH, TSH, LH, and FSH was determined in seven prepubertal birls suffering from congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylation defect and under treatment with cortisone acetate. GH and ACTH were studied during the insulin induced hypoglycemia test. The LH, FSH, and TSH reserved were assayed by means of the LH-RH and TRH tests. GH behavior proved to be similar to that found in normal subjects, whereas basal and/or after stimulus ACTH turned out to be higher than the upper limits of the normal range in five out of six girls. The mean basal value and the mean LH peak were not significantly higher than those found in normal prepubertal girls; the mean basal value and the mean FSH peak were lower than the mean of the control group. The difference is significant (P less than 0.05) only between the peak values. The mean basal TSH in the patients is significantly higher (P less than 0.01) than the mean value of the control group. The maximum TSH after TRH is not significantly different from the mean value fo the control group.     

Hypothalamic-pituitary function (LH, FSH and prolactin) in males with chronic liver diseases.

Because of the central importance of the liver for the metabolism of estrogens and androgens the chronically ill liver per se represents an essential disturbing factor within the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis caused by the altered hepatic metabolism of the steroid hormones as well as the abnormal synthesis of steroid-hormone-binding proteins with changed free fractions of sex hormones. The question has been differently answered whether a chronic hepatic disease can also be the reason for disturbance on hypothalamic-pituitary and/or testicular level. Recent plasma determination of LH/FSH before and after LHRH and clomiphene, of sex hormones before and after HCG as well as unbound sex hormones in males with chronic hepatic diseases lead to the following conclusion. 1. Chronic liver disease (without idopathic hemochromatosis). Even sever chronic hepatic diseases are not accompanied by primary hypopituitarism. With regard to the impaired Leydig cells stimulation by HCG and the abnormal seminal fluid and testicular histology one can suppose a primary gonadal hypogonadism. However, an additional hypothalamic disturbance has to be considered. 2. Idiopathic hemochromatosis. Presumably in hemochromatosis a primary insufficiency of pituitary and/or testes can take place related to the general metabolic disturbances of this illness. The classic hypothesis of an exclusively primary lesion with secondary hypogonadism does not appear to be correct.     

The hormonal status of patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy: FSH, LH, TSH and prolactin responses to releasing hormones.

In order to determine whether the benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) adenoma is responsible for low serum LH levels in patients with this disease, we measured FSH, LH and prolactin in sera collected from patients before and 0.8–2.2 years after retro-pubic prostatectomy, but found no change in their levels. Pituitary stimulation tests were therefore conducted to evaluate the pituitary hormone reserve in normal elderly men, and BPH patients before and after removal of the BPH adenoma. Blood was drawn 20 min before and during the administration of 100 μg LHRH and 200 μg TRH, as a single intravenous injection, and after 20, 60 and 120 min. Serum FSH, LH, TSH and prolactin were estimated by radioimmunoassays. Prior to prostatectomy, patients with BPH had significantly lower levels of serum LH, but not FSH, TSH or prolactin, as compared to normal men 20 min before the test. Serum LH in the BPH group after prostatectomy (1–2.75 years) was not statistically different from that of normal age-matched men, but the mean level more closely resembled that of the untreated BPH group. Although there were no significant differences in serum levels of FSH or prolactin between subject groups during stimulation, levels of LH and TSH in untreated BPH patients' serum were significantly lower than those of normal men. The BPH patients after prostatectomy resembled the normal men under these circumstances, and the serum levels of TSH in these ex-BPH patients were significantly higher than in untreated BPH patients. Similarly, the maximum LH and TSH responses to the hypothalamic releasing hormones were also significantly lower in the BPH patients as compared to normal age-matched men, and evidently return to normal 1–2.75 years after prostatectomy. No statistically significant differences were observed in the FSH and prolactin responses to LHRH and TRH between groups. The results suggest that a factor originating from the BPH adenoma, such as 5α-dihydrotestosterone, may be responsible for the suppression of pituitary LH and TSH responses to LHRH and TRH, respectively. It also appears that the pituitary of BPH patients does not regain its full secretory potential after the BPH adenoma has been removed, or that an additional factor may regulate pituitary LH secretion in the untreated and ex-BPH patients at the hypothalamic level.     

Evidence of altered dopaminergic modulation of Prl, LH, FSH, GH and TSH secretion during chronic partial dopamine receptor blockade in normal women

In order to study the influence of chronic, partial dopaminergic blockade on pituitary secretion of Prl, TSH, GH, LH and FSH, 8 normally menstruating women were given metoclopramide (MTC, Primperan ) 7.5 mg daily for 4 weeks. Based on weekly measurements of progesterone, all cycles were ovulatory. Prior to and after 4 weeks of drug administration serial measurements of basal hormone levels as well as the acute alterations after 10 mg of MTC iv were assessed during the early follicular phase. Chronic MTC administration significantly increased serum Prl (P less than 0.02), reduced basal levels of LH (P less than 0.02), whereas basal serum concentrations of TSH, GH and FSH were not changed. Before chronic administration iv MTC evoked significant increments in serum Prl (P less than 0.001), TSH (P less than 0.001) and GH (P less than 0.005). The acute TSH increments were significantly (P less than 0.02) diminished after 4 weeks of treatment. The influence of chronic MTC administration on serum LH and TSH levels may be the result of a competitive effect of a stimulatory influence of the dopamine receptor blocker and an opposing inhibitory influence of an increased hypothalamic dopamine activity, evoked by the MTC induced hyperprolactinaemia. Our data favour that the latter mechanism is dominating in normal women, during chronic administration of a low dose of MTC.     

Hyperthyroidism secondary to a pituitary adenoma secreting TSH, FSH, alpha-subunit and GH

A 51-year-old man had been treated for hyperthyroidism with antithyroid drugs for 8 years. He was then found to have a large pituitary adenoma with biochemical evidence of overproduction of TSH, FSH and alpha-subunit. Subsequent immunocytochemical and tissue culture studies confirmed secretion of these hormones. In addition, the tumour stained for GH and was capable of GH production in vitro. This combination of hormones produced by a pituitary adenoma has not been previously reported.     

Plasma and pituitary concentrations of LH, FSH and prolactin in aging mongolian gerbils

Samples of plasma and pituitary homogenates collected from female Mongolian gerbils (3–4, 11–13 and 20–25 month-old) at various stages of the estrous cycle were analyzed by radio-immunoassay for luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin (Prl). Plasma and pituitary LH concentrations were similar in all three age groups. Plasma FSH concentrations tended to increase with age while plasma Prl concentrations remained unchanged. Pituitary concentrations of FSH and Prl were variable between the age groups depending upon the stage of the estrous cycle. The inability of older gerbils to produce young appears to result primarily from age-related changes occurring in the uterus rather than from alterations in the hypothalamic-hypophyseal complex.     

高血压脑出血病人血浆TSH.GH.FSH及皮质醇浓度的变化

本文采用放免法(RIA)对25例高血压脑出血病人及17例正常人血浆TSH、FSH、GH及皮质醇浓度进行测定。结果表明,高血压脑出血病人发病3天内,同一时相(8 a.m.)血中TSH、FSH、GH及皮质醇浓度明显高于对照组,并出现昼夜节律紊乱。分析上述几种垂体激素增高的原因与脑出血后体内处于应激状态,下丘脑-垂体的病理改变及神经递质的调节障碍等因素有关。     

健康婴儿LH、FSH、雌二醇与睾酮的血清浓度

目的研究正常婴儿血LH、FSH、雌二醇(E2)与睾酮(T)的血清浓度变化。方法用免疫化学发光分析法对358名正常婴儿(男婴183,女婴175)的LH、FSH、E2和T水平进行测定,同时对3个月内婴儿的其他可能相关指标(出生体重、孕期、胎次、母亲年龄及分娩方式)进行了研究。结果(1)婴儿期4种激素水平变化男婴LH、FSH在2~3月龄时达高峰(LH3.5IU/L,FSH3.4IU/L),6月龄后趋平坦(LH1.5IU/L,FSH<1.5IU/L),T在2~4月龄时达高峰(9.15mmol/L)后快速下降,6月龄后稳定在一个较低的水平(<1.34nmol/L);女婴FSH在2~3月龄达高峰(7.1IU/L),LH与T在整个婴儿期的水平几乎是条直线(LH<4.7IU/L,T<2.49nmol/L)。男女婴的E2水平在生后快速下降,3月龄后达最低值。(2)性别差异LH和T在6月龄前男婴明显高于女婴,6月龄后无性别差异。FSH水平各月龄组女婴均高于男婴,E2除2月龄前女婴高于男婴外,3~12月龄时无性别差异。(3)3月龄内婴儿促性腺激素、性激素水平与出生体重、孕期、胎次、母亲年龄及分娩方式未显示相关关系。结论婴儿在2~4月龄时的血促性腺激素与性激素水平有个暂时的高峰期,并有明显性别差异,可能与两性性腺发育的不同调控机制有关。     

FSH, LH and prolactin levels, ovarian follicular development and ovarian responsiveness to FSH in the Snell dwarf mouse

The homozygous Snell dwarf mouse is sterile. It has been shown that pituitary hormone levels are low in 3 month old animals except for FSH and LH whose pituitary contents and plasma concentrations are normal. In this study, the pituitary FSH, LH and prolactin (Prl) content, the FSH plasma concentration and the ovarian follicular development of the Snell dwarf mouse were studied at 18, 20, 24, 40 and 80 days of age. Normal mice were also studied at the same age and served as controls. Pituitary FSH was significantly lower in dwarf mice compared with controls during the period days 18 to 30, while plasma FSH was significantly lower during the period days 20 to 80. Pituitary LH was significantly lower in dwarf mice during the period days 18 to 40. In normal mice, pituitary Prl increased with age, but remained consistently low in dwarf mice. The normal number of growing follicles was similar in dwarf mice and controls up to day 30, but thereafter the total number of growing follicles was greater in the controls. In the dwarf mice, the production of antral follicles was low and there were no ovulations. The rates of atresia were similar in the two genotypes. The responsiveness of the dwarf mouse ovary to FSH was then examined. When dwarf and control mice were supplemented with FSH for 5 days starting at 24 days of age, the ovarian and uterine weights increase 6- and 5-fold, respectively, in the dwarf mice, and 2- to 3-fold in the normal mice.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of phototherapy on plasma levels of GH, LH and FSH in the newborn

Plasma levels of GH, LH and FSH were measured in 74 three-day-old newborn infants with hyperbilirubinemia before and after exposure to continuous phototherapy (PhT) for 48 h. The results obtained were compared with data observed over the same period of time in 46 newborn infants belonging to the control group having homogeneous characteristics as far as form of delivery (spontaneous), gestation age, chronological age, sex, birth weight and basal blood glucose were concerned, except hyperbilirubinemia and necessity of PhT. Hyperbilirubinemic female newborn showed higher plasma GH concentrations in comparison with hyperbilirubinemic males and with controls. Forty-eight of continuous PhT significantly reduced GH levels which, however, appeared not to be substantially different from those of normal controls of the same age. Moreover, PhT determined a slight trend to increase in FSH of females, and did not modify the physiological decline of LH in both sexes during the first five days of life. The reduction of GH following PhT from abnormal to physiological concentrations may be due to the direct effect of light and/or to continuous light-related disorders of sleep. In conclusion, 48 h of continuous exposure to light (PhT) do not impair the newborn's pituitary functions here studied.     

ATROPINE SELECTIVELY BLOCKS GHRH-INDUCED GH SECRETION WITHOUT ALTERING LH, FSH, TSH, PRL AND ACTH/CORTISOL SECRETION ELICITED BY THEIR SPECIFIC HYPOTHALAMIC RELEASING FACTORS

The role of acetylcholine in the regulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary system in man was assessed using atropine, which selectively blocks cholinergic muscarinic receptors. Paired tests were performed in 10 normal men using either GHRH (1 microgram/kg i.v.), or TRH (300 micrograms i.v.) plus LHRH (100 micrograms i.v.) plus corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH) (1 microgram/kg i.v.) with or without atropine given 30 min previously (1 mg i.m.). The GHRH-induced GH secretory peak (17.8 +/- 3.0 ng/ml) was completely blocked by atropine administration (2.8 +/- 0.6 ng/ml) (P less than 0.05). Atropine did not, however, modify TRH-induced TSH and PRL secretion, nor FSH and LH release induced by the LHRH pulse. ACTH/cortisol secretion elicited by CRH was also unaffected by atropine. These results suggest that atropine blockade of GHRH-induced GH secretion is highly specific, and constitutes an indication of the importance of cholinergic control of GH function. Furthermore, atropine's lack of action on the other pituitary hormones rules out the possibility that it acts non-specifically, i.e. via blood flow changes or toxic effects.     

Serum concentrations of LH and FSH in the healthy newborn

OBJECTIVE: A sex difference in fetal and neonatal pituitary-gonadal function has been well documented. The aim of the following study was to determine sex differences and patterns of basal LH/FSH in the neonatal period. DESIGN: Peripheral venous blood was obtained from 164 healthy full term newborns (91 males, 73 females) for clinically indicated laboratory examinations. RESULTS: In male newborns, LH values were initially low (days 1-5), increased between days 6 and 10, and reached maximum levels between days 16 and 20. Levels of FSH were initially low (days 1-5), increased between days 6 and 10 and reached maximum levels between days 11 and 15. In female newborns, LH levels were generally lower than in newborn boys; levels were initially low, then increased between days 11 and 15 and reached maximum levels at the end of the newborn period. FSH values were generally higher than in newborn boys; there were initially low values with a first peak between days 11 and 15 and a second peak between days 21 and 28. CONCLUSIONS: LH values in male newborns were higher and exceeded values in female newborns, whereas FSH values in female newborns exceeded male newborn values. Male newborns do not exhibit any peaks of LH and FSH activity, whereas female newborns exhibit two FSH peaks during this period.