Gonadotrophic hormone

The human female reproductive (ovarian) cycle is initiated and regulated by gonadotrophic hormones. Day 1 of the cycle is characterized by commencement of menstruation the discharge of fragments of the endometrium (wall of the womb) from the body, signifying fertilization has not occurred in the last cycle. At this stage, plasma levels of FSH and LH are low, but these begin to increase slowly over the subsequent 10-14 days. 

The gonadotrophic hormones of the pituitary include the interstitial cell stimulating hormone (ICSH), which is present and effective in both males and females, and the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), which stimulates the development of multiple follicles in females and apparently in males induces spermatogenesis. 

Anterior pituitary growth hormone, gonadotrophic hormones, corticotropin, thyrotrophin. 

In addition to the alterations in gonadotrophic hormones described above, patients have an increased plasma cortisol, secondary to an elevation of corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH) (Putignano et al. 2001). This is a factor in the reduction in bone density and increased liability to fractures seen in anorexia nervosa. Increased CRH inhibits the activity of the orexogenic neuropeptide Y (NPY) thereby further lowering the desire to eat. 

Here the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is definitely more increased than the luteinising hormone (LH), which leads to an inverse relation between the two gonadotrophic hormones. Furthermore, there is extraglandular synthesis of oestrogens from androgenous precursors in the ovaries and adrenal glands. 

Cell suspension (0.1 ml, containing 6 x 10" cells) is added to tubes, in ice, that contain 0.1ml of the appropriate amount of the gonadotrophic hormone in Eagle s medium containing 2% calf serum. The samples (test and controls) are incubated at 34°C for 3h, at 80rpm in the 02 C02 atmosphere. The amount of testosterone produced is measured by... 

These degenerations may be due to failure in production of gonadotrophic hormones from the pituitary and may perhaps be correlated with the changes in the pituitary. A few such changes are recorded in the literature. 

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