Plasma androgens and menstrual cycle: physiopathological correlates from adolescence to menopause

Effects of bromocriptine on pituitary and adrenal cortex in pre-adrenarchal rabbits

The effect of bromocriptine on the morphological picture and steroid content of the adrenal gland, and on certain pro-opiomelanocortin (C) peptides in the pituitary gland was evaluated in preadrenarchal rabbits. Eighteen immature male rabbits (5 weeks of age), were treated for 10 days with saline (n = 10,2 ml sc) or bromocriptine mesylate (n = 8, 3 mg/kg sc) two times/day. After the last administration all animals received dexamethasone (0.25 mg im) and the next morning, 60 min after ACTH injection (0.25 mg im), plasma was drawn and they were sacrificed. Adrenals and pituitaries were immediately removed. For each animal, one adrenal gland was fixed, dehydrated and embedded in paraffin for histology; the other one was stored in saline for determination of androstenedione (A), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA), 17-OH progesterone (17 P), and cortisol. Steroids were analyzed by RIA after previous extraction and celite-ethyleneglycol chromatography, or directly (cortisol). The immunoreactivities (ir) related to beta-Endorphin (B-EP), ACTH and alpha-MSH were evaluated in pituitary homogenates using specific RIAs. The bromocriptine-treated rabbits showed a significant increase in the percentage of the adrenal zona reticularis (21.5 +/- 3.9% of total cortex vs. 12.7 +/- 1.3% in controls, p less than 0.05, mean +/- SE), and a decrease of the zona fasciculata (57.6 +/- 3.13% vs. 67.7 +/- 2.05% in controls, p less than 0.05). No significant changes were observed in the relative percentage of the zona glomerulosa.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ovulation induction with pulsatile luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone in women with clomiphene citrate-resistant polycystic ovary-like disease: endocrine results

The pituitary and gonadal response to pulsatile luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) administration during the first and consecutive second treatment unit (TU) was studied in nine women with clomiphene citrate-resistant polycystic ovary-like disease (PCOD). The control group consisted of eight eumenorrheic women. Luteinizing hormone levels, LH amplitudes, and total urinary excretion/24 hours did not differ between ovulatory and anovulatory TUs, but were significantly higher compared with the control group. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in PCOD did not differ from normal cycles. Androgen values in the anovulatory TUs were significantly higher compared with the ovulatory TUs (P = 0.001). We conclude that LH-RH therapy may result in ovulation; however, it does not redress the intrinsic abnormality in PCOD and FSH, and androgen levels do not seem to be critical in ovulation induction.

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate and dehydroepiandrosterone in serum: differences related to age and sex

Serum concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHAS) were determined in 590 healthy women aged 20-87 yr. Simultaneous assays of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA) were performed in 417 of the women. DHA and DHAS levels correlated negatively with age while the DHA/DHAS ratio proved to be unrelated to age. When values for 60 healthy men in the age range 20-84 yr were compared with those obtained in 60 randomly-selected healthy women who were exactly age-matched, the DHAS levels were found to be significantly lower and the DHA/DHAS ratios significantly higher in the women. These results might be of use in establishing normal clinical ranges for serum DHA, DHAS and the DHA/DHAS ratio in women.

Plasma and cyst fluid levels of delta 5 and delta 4 steroid hormones in women with gross cystic breast disease

delta 5 and delta 4 steroid levels were studied in the plasma and cyst fluid of women with gross cystic breast disease (GCBD). In luteal phase a significant increase in plasma levels (mean +/- SEM) of DHA (11.2 +/- 2.4 ng/ml), DHAS (1.45 +/- 0.6 micrograms/ml) and cortisol 277 +/- 15.7 ng/ml) was found; in follicular phase the mean levels were 4.09 +/- 0.47 ng/ml for DHA, 0.65 +/- 0.08 microgram/ml for DHAS and 190 +/- 46.3 micrograms/ml for cortisol. The DHA/DHAS and cortisol/androstenedione ratios were significantly higher in the plasma and lower in the cyst fluid of GCBD patients, than in the plasma of controls; the androstenedione/DHA ratio was higher in the cyst fluid than in the plasma of controls. The hormonal situation of the GCBD patients thus differed from that of the controls both in the plasma and cyst fluid, particularly as regards the delta 5 steroids.

Adrenal cortex and type II polycystic ovary syndrome

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the adrenal gland participates in the pathogenesis of type II polycystic ovary syndrome (PCO), and, if so, to see if an altered pattern of ACTH secretion might be responsible. Circadian secretion and pulsatility (morning and evening) of ACTH, and adrenal and pituitary responsiveness to exogenous ACTH and GnRH, respectively, were evaluated in 10 women with type II PCO and 10 normally menstruating women. After the patients had been administered oral dexamethasone (0.5 mg each night) for 3 months, studies were repeated. Mean plasma values of PRL, testosterone, DHA-S and 17-OH progesterone (17-P) measured by RIA were significantly higher (p less than 0.05) in patients than in controls. FSH and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) were significantly lower (p less than 0.05). Cortisol and 17-P responses to ACTH, and the LH/FSH ratio (both in basal conditions and after GnRH stimulation) were significantly higher (p less than 0.05) in patients. ACTH circadian secretion and pulsatility were similar in both groups. Treatment with dexamethasone significantly reduced plasma values of testosterone, DHA-S, androstenedione (adione), cortisol and the LH/FSH ratio (basal and after GnRH), but adrenal hyperresponsiveness to ACTH was maintained. ACTH pulsatility and secretion were significantly (p less than 0.05) reduced in the morning. Our results suggest that there are abnormalities at the adrenal level in type II PCO. Given that ACTH secretion appears to be normal and that adrenal hyperresponsiveness is still observed after treatment with dexamethasone, it is tempting to speculate that excessive trophic stimulation of the gland by a factor other than ACTH could exist in such patients.