LH and FSH. Women. Men. Increased LH. Decreased LH. By Ronald Steriti, ND, PhD 2011

Transcription

1 LH and FSH By Ronald Steriti, ND, PhD 2011 Luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) are gonadotropins that stimulate the gonads - the testes in males, and the ovaries in females. They are secreted by gonadotrophs, cells in the anterior pituitary. In the testes, LH binds to receptors on Leydig cells, stimulating synthesis and secretion of testosterone. In the ovary, theca cells respond to LH stimulation by secretion of testosterone, which is converted into estrogen by adjacent granulosa cells. Women Increased levels of FSH and LH are consistent with primary ovarian failure. Low levels of FSH and LH are consistent with secondary ovarian failure due to a pituitary or hypothalamic problem. Low FSH serum levels have been associated with increased risk of ovarian cancer. Men In men, high FSH levels are due to primary testicular failure. Low levels are consistent with pituitary or hypothalamic disorders. Increased LH Premature menopause Gonadal dysgenesis, Turner syndrome CastrationSwyer syndrome Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Certain forms of CAH Testicular failure Decreased LH Kallmann syndrome Hypothalamic suppression Hypopituitarism

2 Eating disorder Female athlete triad Hyperprolactinemia Gonadotropin deficiency Gonadal suppression therapy Increased FSH Premature menopause, also known as Premature Ovarian Failure Poor ovarian reserve, also known as Premature Ovarian Aging Gonadal dysgenesis, Turner syndrome Castration Swyer syndrome Certain forms of CAH Testicular failure. Decreased FSH Drugs Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome + Obesity + Hirsutism + Infertility Kallmann syndrome Hypothalamic suppression Hypopituitarism Hyperprolactinemia Gonadotropin deficiency Gonadal suppression therapy FSH results can be increased with use of cimetidine, clomiphene, digitalis, and levodopa. FSH results can decrease with oral contraceptives, phenothiazines, and hormone treatments. FSH has been reported to increase with age and in smokers. A recent nuclear medicine scan may interfere with results of the FSH test. Vitamin E Vitamin E deficiency exerts a suppressive effect directly on the gonadal function to decrease the hormone synthesis in the Leydig cells and caused

3 the increased secretion of pituitary LH owing to the feedback mechanism. (Akazawa, Mikami et al. 1987) Vitamin E-deficiency induced changes in ovary and uterus in female rats. There were (i) significant drop in uterine weight in deficient group (ii) significant decrease in estrogen, LH and estrogen-induced uterine enzymes alkaline phosphatase and peroxidase and (iii) ovarian dysfunction as noted by degenerating graffian follicles. (Das and Chowdhury 1999) Vitamin C Luteinizing hormone depletes ascorbic acid in preovulatory follicles. Follicular growth and ovulation were induced in immature rats by gonadotropin treatment. Ovarian ascorbic acid was maximally depleted (50%) within 2 hours of LH treatment and was sustained for 8 hours. (Guarnaccia, Takami et al. 2000) Ascorbic acid acts as an inhibitory transmitter in the hypothalamus to inhibit stimulated luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone release by scavenging nitric oxide. (Karanth, Yu et al. 2000) Manganese Manganese acts centrally to activate reproductive hormone secretion and pubertal development in male rats. MnCl2, when administered acutely into the third ventricle of the brain, acts dose dependently to stimulate luteinizing hormone (LH) release. Animals receiving the 25 mg/kg dose showed increased LH (p<0.05), FSH (p<0.01) and testosterone (p<0.01) levels at 55 days of age. Furthermore, there was a concomitant increase in both daily sperm production (p<0.05) and efficiency of spermatogenesis (p<0.05), demonstrating a Mn-induced acceleration in spermatogenesis. (Lee, Pine et al. 2006) Manganese stimulates luteinizing hormone releasing hormone secretion in prepubertal female rats. (Lee, Hiney et al. 2007) Manganese also stimulates luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone secretion in adult male rats. (Prestifilippo, Fernandez-Solari et al. 2007) (Prestifilippo, Fernandez-Solari et al. 2008) Vitex agnus castus A recent study examined the effects of Vitex agnus castus extract and its interaction with dopaminergic system on LH and testosterone in male mice. LH and testosterone, showed significant decrease in bromocriptine group and haloperidol increased these hormones. Vac. extract decreased significantly the LH and testosterone levels. The co-administration of Vitex extract and bromocriptine decreased LH and testosterone. Co-administration of Vac. extract and haloperidol decreased LH and testosterone levels. These

4 results suggest: dopamine regulates the gonadotroph-leydig cells axis. It appears that Vitex exerts effects through dopaminergic system and other pathways. The findings of this study show we can use Vitex extract for pathological cases of increasing LH and testosterone. (Nasri, Oryan et al. 2007)

5 References Akazawa, N., S. Mikami, et al. (1987). "Effects of vitamin E deficiency on the hormone secretion of the pituitary-gonadal axis of the rat." Tohoku J Exp Med 152(3): Das, P. and M. Chowdhury (1999). "Vitamin E-deficiency induced changes in ovary and uterus." Mol Cell Biochem 198(1-2): Guarnaccia, M. M., M. Takami, et al. (2000). "Luteinizing hormone depletes ascorbic acid in preovulatory follicles." Fertil Steril 74(5): Karanth, S., W. H. Yu, et al. (2000). "Ascorbic acid acts as an inhibitory transmitter in the hypothalamus to inhibit stimulated luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone release by scavenging nitric oxide." Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 97(4): Lee, B., J. K. Hiney, et al. (2007). "Manganese stimulates luteinizing hormone releasing hormone secretion in prepubertal female rats: hypothalamic site and mechanism of action." J Physiol 578(Pt 3): Lee, B., M. Pine, et al. (2006). "Manganese acts centrally to activate reproductive hormone secretion and pubertal development in male rats." Reprod Toxicol 22(4): Nasri, S., S. Oryan, et al. (2007). "The effects of Vitex agnus castus extract and its interaction with dopaminergic system on LH and testosterone in male mice." Pak J Biol Sci 10(14): Prestifilippo, J. P., J. Fernandez-Solari, et al. (2008). "Acute effect of manganese on hypothalamic luteinizing hormone releasing hormone secretion in adult male rats: involvement of specific neurotransmitter systems." Toxicol Sci 105(2): Prestifilippo, J. P., J. Fernandez-Solari, et al. (2007). "Effect of manganese on luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone secretion in adult male rats." Toxicol Sci 97(1):