Stimulation test follicle-stimulating hormone

The gonadotropins, follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone, exert their effects on the gonads (ovaries in the female and testes in the male). Taken together, the gonadotropins stimulate the gonads to ... 

Figure 19.11 Hormones secreted by the hypothalamus, anterior pituitary, ovary and testis and feedback regulation. GnRH is gonadotrophin-releasing hormone the gonadotrophins are follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH). The effect of these hormones on activities in the ovary and testes is shown. FSH stimulates synthesis and secretion of oestradiol from follicle, and spermatogenesis in testis. LH stimulates synthesis and secretion of progesterone from corpus luteum and synthesis and secretion of testosterone by the Leydig cells.

Follicle stimulating hormone is responsible for the growth of testes. It promotes spermatogenesis. Along with LH, FSH plays an essential role in maintaining the normal testicular functions such as development of male sex organs e.g. penis, scrotum development of secondary sexual characters e.g. growth of facial. 

The Sertoli cells in the testes appear to be the main target of the testicular toxicity. Proposed mechanistic h otheses relate to reduced testicular zinc levels, altered hormonal status, altered metabolic function and altered follicle-stimulating hormone reactivity. 

Thyrotropin (thyroid-stimulating hormone, TSH)b Follitropin (follicle-stimulating hormone, FH)b Lutropin (luteinizing hormone, ICSH or LH)b Thyroid Ovaries, testes Ovaries, testes Ch 25, B2... 

Gonadotropin A hormone that produces a stimulatory effect on the gonads (ovaries and testes) primary gonadotropins include luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). 

Reichert LE Jr (1976) Follicle-stimulating hormone measurement by a rat testes tubule receptor assay. In Blecher M (ed) Methods in Receptor Research, Part I. Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York and Basel, pp 99-118 Reichert LE, Bhalla VK (1974) Development of a radioligand receptor assay for human follicle stimulating hormone. Endocrinology 94 483-491... 

In order to improve the predictive value of basal FSH, Fanchin et al. (F2, Ol) have introduced the exogenous follicle-stimulating hormone ovarian reserve test (EFORT). On cycle day 3, two menstrual cycles before IVF treatment, basal FSH as well as estradiol concentrations are determined in serum, and 300IU of FSH are administered i.m. After 24 h, estradiol levels are determined again. The predictive value of basal FSH <12 U/liter and a rise in estradiol >30 pg/ml is more predictive of adequate ovarian response than basal FSH alone. 

F2. Fanchin, R., De Ziegler, D., Olivennes, F., Taieb, J., Dzik, A., and Frydman, R., Exogenous follicle stimulating hormone ovarian reserve test (EFORT) A simple and reliable screening test for detecting poor responders in in-vitro fertilization. Hum. Reprod. 9, 1607-1611 (1994). 

Follicle-stimulating hormone FSH Ovaries, testes Growth of reproductive system... 

Azizi et al. (1995) investigated changes in serum concentrations of reproductive hormones and sperm counts in men who had been exposed to sulfur mustard during wartime. In 16 individuals, serum free and total testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone were markedly decreased in the first five weeks after exposure but levels returned to normal by 12 weeks. In 28 of 42 men evaluated one to three years after exposure, sperm counts were less than 30 million ceUs/mL and follicle-stimulating hormone was increased compared to controls having sperm counts above 60 million cells/mL. Testicular biopsy of the test subjects revealed partial or complete arrest of spermatogenesis. 

A 28-year-old woman took thalidomide 100 mg/day for Behget s disease and after 3 months developed amenorrhea (89). She took an oral contraceptive for 8 months, but then had a deep vein thrombosis in association with a factor V Leiden mutation the oral contraceptive was withdrawn and she was given warfarin. She remained amenorrheic. She had a raised serum concentration of follicle-stimulating hormone but all other laboratory tests were normal. Ultrasonography showed a normal uterus and an endometrial lining of 4 mm. The amenorrhea was attributed to thahdomide, which she decided to continue taking she remained amenorrheic. 

Reduced sperm counts, decreased testes size, decreased circulating testosterone and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, and an increase in luteinizing hormone (EH) were reported in men occupationally exposed to methoxyethanol at levels in the range 5.4-8.5 ppm. A tendency toward reduced fertility in the spouses of men exposed to methoxyethanol was also observed in this study. Increases in the incidence of oligospermia and azoospermia were found in painters exposed to methoxyethanol (mean level of exposure less than 1 ppm). However, no reduction of fertility was noted. The study was complicated by the simultaneous exposure of the workers to ethoxy ethanol. No paternal effects on offspring have been associated with human methoxyethanol exposures. 

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is one of the gonadotrophin hormones (with LH), secreted by the anterior pituitary gland and consists of double peptide chains. In women, in conjunction with LH, it causes the monthly ripening in one ovary of a follicle, and stimulates ovulation. In men it stimulates the production of sperm in the testes. It may be injected therapeutically in female infertility treatment to stimulate ovulation. It is available in several forms, e.g. urofollitrophin or menotrophin which is a 1 1 mix ofFSH/LH. 

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