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PubMed1967

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteninizing hormone (LH) in the urine of prepubertal children.

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) have been measured by specific bioassays in pooled urine samples from prepubertal children, aged 2-6 yr, and from male adults. For children the mean urinary excretion of FSH was 2.2 U 2nd International Reference Preparation (2nd IRP) per liter and the mean urinary excretion of LH was 0.44 U 2nd IRP per liter. For adults the mean FSH excretion was 5.6 U 2nd IRP per liter and the mean LH excretion was 4.7 U 2nd IRP per liter. Our data show a 2.5-fold increase of FSH, a 10.7-fold increase of LH, and a consequent decrease in the FSH: LH ratio from 5 to 1 between childhood and adulthood. FSH and LH in urine from three patients with gonadal abnormalities have also been studied. The results from normal children, adults, and abnormal patients form a spectrum and reveal that sexual maturity is accompanied by a marked increase in the excretion of LH with relatively smaller increases in FSH.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Pulsatile secretion of LH and FSH in prepubertal and early pubertal boys revealed by ultrasensitive time-resolved immunofluorometric assays.

Pulsatile secretion of LH and FSH was examined in 10 prepubertal (aged 4.5-12.9 y) and seven early pubertal (aged 12.8-14.5 y) boys with ultrasensitive (0.019 and 0.014 IU/L) time-resolved immunofluorometric assays. Plasma LH and FSH levels were measured every 15 or 20 min for 6 h during the day and night. The lowest mean LH level in a prepubertal boy was 0.02 IU/L and in eight other prepubertal boys mean LH levels were less than 0.4 IU/L. In early pubertal boys the mean LH levels ranged from 0.3 to 6.5 IU/L. The difference in mean FSH level between prepubertal (0.61 IU/L) and early pubertal boys (1.85 IU/L) was smaller than the difference in LH level. All boys had significant LH and FSH pulses. The LH interpulse interval was 135 +/- 86 min (mean +/- SD) and 76 +/- 65 min for the prepubertal and pubertal boys, respectively (p less than 0.01). For FSH, the respective values were 150 +/- 122 and 221 +/- 157 min (p = NS). The mean LH pulse amplitudes were 11-fold greater in the early pubertal boys than in the prepubertal boys, whereas the mean FSH pulse amplitudes were similar between the two groups. The present method shows that the mean LH levels in prepubertal boys are much lower, and the increase during puberty larger, than previously reported. The increase is apparently due to increased pulse frequency and amplitude. The increase in mean FSH level is smaller and evidently not caused by an increase in pulse frequency or pulse amplitude.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Regulation of inhibin subunit gene expression by FSH and estradiol in cultured rat granulosa cells.

Roles of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and sex steroids in regulating the expression of mRNA species encoding the alpha-, beta A- and beta B-subunits of inhibin were studied in cultured granulosa cells from immature rat ovaries. Inhibin subunit mRNAs were detected by Northern blot analysis of total RNA extracted from granulosa cell monolayers which had been incubated for 48 h in serum-free medium containing FSH (100 ng/ml) and/or a steroid (10(-6) M): estradiol (E), testosterone (T) or 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Levels of mRNA encoding each inhibin subunit in untreated (control) cultures were low. In cultures treated with FSH alone, levels of inhibin alpha-, beta A- and beta B-subunit mRNA were approximately 60-fold, 70-fold and 66-fold greater than control, respectively. In cultures treated with E alone, levels of inhibin alpha- and beta B-subunit mRNA were elevated approximately 4-fold and 2-fold, respectively, but the level of inhibin beta A-subunit mRNA was not measurably affected. Treatment with T or DHT alone had no consistent effect on the levels of any inhibin subunit mRNA. The stimulatory effects of FSH were not consistently altered by the presence of either androgen or estrogen. These results confirm the role of FSH in regulating inhibin alpha-subunit gene expression and provide direct evidence that both inhibin beta-subunit genes are inducible by FSH in granulosa cells. All three inhibin subunit mRNAs followed the same pattern, suggesting that their expression is coordinately regulated by FSH during granulosa cell differentiation.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Developmental changes in steroidogenesis by equine preovulatory follicles: effects of equine LH, FSH, and CG.

Ovulation in mares is preceded by a long and variable estrous period. The differentiation of equine preovulatory follicles with respect to steroidogenic capacity and responsiveness to equine gonadotropins was studied by culturing pieces of follicle wall (FW = theca + attached granulosa cells) from preovulatory follicles isolated during late diestrus (day 14 of cycle, n = 5 mares), early estrus (1st-2nd day of estrus, n = 6) or late estrus (4th or 5th day of estrus, n = 6). FW was cultured with or without equine LH, FSH, LH + FSH, or CG (10 or 100 ng/ml) and medium was collected and replaced at 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h of culture. Follicular fluid from presumptive ovulatory follicles and medium from FW cultures were assayed for progesterone, androstenedione, and estradiol-17 beta. The cumulative secretion of all three steroids after 72 h of culture was significantly lower in FW isolated during late diestrus (P less than 0.05) as compared with early or late estrus. Maximal progesterone secretion was observed with FW from late estrus whereas maximal androstenedione and estradiol secretion in vitro occurred with FW from early estrus. In contrast to results obtained in vitro, concentrations of progesterone in follicular fluid were not different among stages of follicular development, and concentrations of androstenedione and estradiol in follicular fluid were maximal in late estrous follicles. Equine gonadotropins had their greatest stimulatory effect on steroidogenesis with FW obtained during late diestrus. As compared with controls, the addition of LH, FSH, or LH + FSH (100 ng/ml) increased progesterone secretion by FW from late diestrus (48x, 64x, and 58x, respectively, P less than 0.01), early estrus (24x, 32x, and 36x, P less than 0.01) and late estrus (9x, 9x, and 9x, P less than 0.01). Equine LH and FSH also increased androstenedione secretion by follicles obtained during diestrus and estrus. In contrast, estradiol secretion showed a more rapid loss in responsiveness to gonadotropin stimulation, with both LH and FSH stimulating estradiol secretion by FW from late diestrous follicles (P less than 0.01), but neither stimulating FW from early or late estrous follicles. Overall, eCG was a less potent stimulator of steroidogenesis in vitro than LH and FSH.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Independent activities of FSH and LH structurally confined in a single polypeptide: selective modification of the relative potencies of the hormones.

The human glycoprotein hormones CG, LH, FSH, and TSH are heterodimers composed of a common alpha subunit noncovalently associated with a hormone-specific beta subunit. Recently, it was reported that a covalently fused triple-domain gonadotropin analog containing FSH beta, CG beta, and alpha subunits was dually active because it bound to both FSH and human CG (hCG)/LH receptors. However, it is not known whether both activities can be uncoupled from each other or whether they change in tandem when modifications are made in the molecule. To address this point, we constructed a triple-domain analog containing FSH beta, LH beta, and alpha subunits, and variants of this analog differing in the carboxyl-terminal region of LH beta. All of the analogs exhibited bifunctional action, i.e. they bound to both LH/hCG and human FSH receptors. FSH binding and signal transduction were similar for all variants and differed less than 2-fold from that of the heterodimer. In contrast, the triple-domain variants manifested distinct individual differences in LH activity. Binding affinity of the longest variant was 30-fold lower than that of the heterodimer. Shortening the length of the LH beta carboxyl-terminal region resulted in decreasing affinities between 210- and more than 480-fold. The potency of adenylate cyclase activation for LH/hCG also decreased as the carboxyl length of LH beta subunit decreased. Thus, while minimally affecting the FSH activity, truncating the carboxyl end of the LH beta subunit in the triple-domain analogs alters the alignment of the LH beta-alpha domains, presumably at the junction between the subunits, and perturbs epitopes required for receptor binding. These data imply that the relative potencies of the two gonadotropin components of a triple-domain structure are independent from each other and can be selectively modified. Because there is a strong rationale for FSH/LH combinations for clinical protocols and patients exhibit variations in metabolic responses in the ratio of FSH/LH, the ability to vary the individual activities represents a potential addition to the therapeutic repertoire for treating infertility.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Pharmacodynamics of a single low dose of long-acting recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH-carboxy terminal peptide, corifollitropin alfa) in women with World Health Organization group II anovulatory infertility.

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study, 55 anovulatory subjects received a single s.c. injection of placebo (n = 10) or recombinant long-acting FSH [FSH-carboxy terminal peptide (CTP), ORG 36286, corifollitropin alfa; NV Organon, The Netherlands] in doses of 7.5 (n = 13), 15 (n = 10), 30 (n = 11), or 60 microg (n = 11). The injection was given 2 or 3 d after the onset of a spontaneous or progestagen-induced withdrawal bleed. After drug administration, the induced follicular response varied widely among subjects in each dose group. The percentage of subjects with a follicular response (at least one follicle > or = 10.0 mm) increased with the dose (P < 0.01) and was 10, 31, 70, 73, and 82% in the placebo and 7.5-, 15-, 30-, and 60-microg treatment groups, respectively. In responding subjects, the average maximum number of follicles was 4.0, 7.6, 13.4, and 20.0, respectively, which was reached at 6.5, 6.9, 6.6, and 8.2 d after a single dose of 7.5, 15, 30, and 60 microg FSH-CTP, respectively. The dose-response for the number of follicles was statistically significant within the dose range tested (P < 0.01). Peak serum inhibin-B levels were significantly correlated with serum estradiol (E2) levels (r = 0.84, P < 0.01), and peak concentrations of inhibin-B and E2 correlated with the number of follicles observed at the same time point (for both hormones; r = 0.47, P < 0.01). Overall per treatment group, serum E2 and inhibin B concentrations significantly increased only in the two highest FSH-CTP dose groups, reaching peak concentrations at d 3 in the 30-microg group and at d 5 in the 60-microg group. Thereafter these hormone values declined rapidly, returning to baseline within 1 wk after FSH-CTP administration. In total, nine of the 55 treated subjects (16.4%) ovulated after drug administration: one subject in the placebo group, two subjects in the 7.5-microg group, three subjects in the 15-microg group, two in the 30-microg group, and one in the 60-microg group. Three subjects had monofollicular ovulation after placebo (n = 1) and a single dose of 15 microg FSH-CTP (n = 2). In two subjects with too many preovulatory follicles, (multiple) ovulation was prevented by GnRH antagonist administration. Thus, a single low dose of long-acting FSH-CTP was able to induce one or more follicles to grow up to ovulatory sizes, but the anovulatory status was not reversed because the incidence of subsequent (mono)ovulations was low.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

FSH-secreting pituitary adenomas: stimulation and suppression studies in two patients.

Two patients with pituitary adenomas, partial hypopituitarism and abnormally high serum concentrations of FSH are described. In neither patient was FSH increased after the administration of LH releasing hormone and in one patient tested, there was no FSH response to clomiphene citrate. The decrease in serum FSH in response to high concentrations of testosterone (greater than 1100 ng/dl) was less than in normal men. These results indicate partial autonomy of FSH producing adenomas. Since the elevated serum FSH produced no obvious clinical symptoms, it may be undetected unless serum FSH concentrations are measured routinely in patients with pituitary tumors.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1976

Overnight follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) excretion in normal males.

FSH and LH in acetone precipitates of timed overnight urine collections were measured by radioimmunoassay. FSH and LH urinary excretion extrapolated to 24 h was determined in 147 boys 3-16 years and 20 normal men. FSH and LH (2nd IRP-HMG) progressively increased with age from 1.8 +/- 1.1 (FSH) and 2.1 +/- 1.2 (LH) IU/24 h for the 3-4 year age group to 8.6 +/- 3.2 (FSH) and 18.8 +/- 9.0 (LH) IU/24 h for the 15-16 year age group. FSH and LH excretion increased progressively with stage of sexual development. The integration of several hours of FSH and LH secretion and the accuracy, simplicity and convenience of collecting a single urine sample are advantages of the timed overnight urine collection which should make this technique extremely useful in the evaluation of gonadotropin function.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Plasma concentrations of ir-inhibin, inhibin A, inhibin pro-alphaC, FSH, and estradiol-17beta during estrous cycle in mares and their relationship with follicular growth.

The relationship among plasma levels of immunoreactive (ir)-inhibin, inhibin A, inhibin pro-alphaC, FSH, estradiol-17beta and follicular growth were investigated during the normal estrous cycle in mares. Seven mares were used for two successive normal estrous cycles. Follicular diameters and ovulation were obtained by transrectal ultrasonography, and blood samples were collected daily by jugular venipuncture for hormonal assay. The results showed that inhibin A was inversely correlated (r = -0.59, p < 0.0001) with FSH indicating its contribution to negative feedback control of FSH secretions from the pituitary gland. Estradiol-17beta increased during the follicular phase reaching a peak (37.9 +/- 3.8 pg/mL) 2 d before ovulation. Estradiol-17beta was positively correlated (r = 0.78, p < 0.0001) with inhibin A. The high levels of inhibin A and estradiol-17beta were associated with the growth of the preovulatory dominant follicle and inversely correlated with FSH suggesting that both hormones are products of the large dominant follicles and were responsible for the decline in FSH secretion during the follicular phase of estrous cycle. In conclusion, an inverse relationship between inhibin A and FSH was clearly demonstrated indicating that inhibin A has a key role in the negative feedback control of FSH from the pituitary gland. In addition, inhibin A and estra-diol-17beta secretions were associated with the growth of the preovulatory dominant follicle and were positively correlated.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Decreased immunoreactive inhibin and increased FSH levels in cryptorchidism after orchidopexy.

The blood FSH level is often high in patients with severe testicular disorders including cryptorchids. To examine whether inhibin is involved in the increase in FSH we measured immunoreactive inhibin, FSH, LH, and testosterone in 17 patients after orchidopexy. FSH was extremely high (20 mIU/ml or above) in 3 patients. The inhibin level was significantly lower (P < 0.01) in these 3 patients (6.47 +/- 2.19 IU/ml; mean +/- SEM) than in the other 14 patients (14.31 +/- 3.96 IU/ml). All 3 high-FSH patients had azoospermia. Testosterone and LH were normal in one of them. Even considering problems involved in the inhibin assay, the high FSH levels are considered to reflect reductions in the blood inhibin level due to Sertoli cell dysfunction. These findings suggest that inhibin plays an important role in the suppression of FSH at least in some patients after orchidopexy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Comparison and problems of measured values of LH, FSH, and PRL among measurement systems.

Several measurement systems are used for LH, FSH, and PRL in Japan, but the comparison of the measured values is difficult in some cases. In this study, we compared the measured values of 3 types of measurement systems widely used in Japan, SPAC-S, ARCHITECT, and Centaur, in females with a normal menstrual cycle and with various ovulatory disorders. Variant LH was discriminated by the criterion, SPAC-S LH/ARCHITECT LH ratio <0.5. Excluding the variant LH, the correlation of the measured LH values among the measurement systems was high, 0.94-0.99, and the value measured by ARCHITECT LH and Centaur LH was slightly higher than that measured by SPAC-S LH. As for FSH, the correlation was also high, 0.94-1.00, and the value measured by ARCHITECT FSH and Centaur FSH was slightly lower than that measured by SPAC-S FSH. The important judgment criterion of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a high level of LH relative to FSH, has been set to 1.0 or higher LH/FSH using SPAC-S. When the regression line of the LH/FSH ratio among the measurement systems was investigated, it can be said that 1.25 or higher by ARCHITECT and 1.40 or higher by Centaur are appropriate for the judgment criteria of a high level of LH relative to FSH. As for PRL, the correlation was high, 0.96-0.99, but the value showed large differences among the systems. For the diagnosis of hyperprolactinemia, the higher limit of the normal range may be 15 ng/mL for SPAC-S, 30 ng/mL for ARCHITECT, and 24 ng/mL for Centaur.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

LH- and FSH-secreting pituitary adenoma in a postmenopausal woman.

Gonadotropin secreting pituitary adenomas have been reported with increasing frequency in men, but they are still rarely recognized in women. We report a 52-year-old postmenopausal woman with LH- and FSH-secreting pituitary adenoma. She had increased LH (37.0 +/- 13.7 IU/l) (mean +/- SD) and FSH (109.9 +/- 26.7 IU/l) but these concentrations were within normal ranges in 80 postmenopausal women (LH: 29.7 +/- 18.3 IU/l, FSH: 104.0 +/- 43.9 IU/l). The administration of GnRH and conjugated estrogen resulted in normal response of LH and FSH. No abnormal response of gonadotropin to TRH and bromocriptine was observed. After transsphenoidal adenomectomy both LH and FSH decreased (LH: 11.1 +/- 4.2 IU/l, FSH: 37.0 +/- 9.6 IU/l). An immunocytochemical study revealed that the adenoma cells synthesize both LH and FSH. The rarity of gonadotropin secreting pituitary adenomas in women could be the result of greater difficulty in recognition due to an increase in serum gonadotropin in postmenopausal women.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1976

The ontogenesis of human foetal hormones. II. Luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH).

The content and concentrations of immunoreactive LH (LER-960) and FSH (LER-869) were determined in 79 human foetal pituitary glands from 68 days of gestation to term, and in the pituitary glands of 3 anencephalic infants, 10 infants and children 2 weeks to 7 years of age, and 4 adults. In addition, the concentration of immunoreactive serum LH, FSH, LH-HCG, and HCG was determined in 48 foetuses and 6 anencephalic infants. The mean content of LH in the pituitary glands of the female foetuses increased sharply from 88.2 +/- 44.2 ng at 10 to 14 weeks to 4983.8 +/- 1128.4 ng at 25 to 29 weeks of gestation. In the male foetuses, the mean content of pituitary LH rose from levels of 21.0 +/- 11.6 ng to peak levels of 114.5 +/- 57.1 ng at 20 to 24 weeks of gestation. The concentration of LH in the pituitary glands of the children was comparable to that of foetuses at mid-gestation. The mean content of FSH in pituitary glands of female foetuses rose from 7.4 +/- 5.2 ng at 10 to 14 weeks to 4788.6 +/- 1460.7 ng at 25 to 29 weeks of gestation. In the male foetuses the pituitary content rose from 1.8 +/- 0.7 ng at 10 to 14 weeks to 14.5 +/- 69.1 ng at 25 to 29 weeks of gestation. The differences in pituitary content of LH and FSH between the male and female foetuses were highly significant from 15 to 29 weeks of gestation. The correlation of the incremental changes in the pituitary content of LH and FSH with gestational age was significant (P less than 0.02). Immunoreactive serum FSH was detected as early as 84 days of gestation at a concentration of 11.0 ng/ml (LER-869). Serum FSH rose to peak levels (18.2 +/- 3.6 ng/ml) at 20 to 25 weeks in a range comparable to that of castrate adults. A decrease was noted by 30 to 34 weeks to levels of 1.7 +/- 0.05 ng/ml, comparable to that in cord samples at term (1.8 +/- 0.2 ng/ml). A significant negative correlation with gestational age was shown after the mid-gestational period (P less than 0.01). Immunoreactive LH, measured by a specific LH assay, was unaffected by levels of HCG present in the foetus. Immunoreactive LH was present in high concentrations by 99 days of gestation (21.5 ng/ml LER-960). Peak levels were attained by 100 to 180 days of gestation with a decrease at them to less than 1.0 ng/ml. A significant negative correlation was noted between serum LH and gestational age. Serum HCG quantified in a betaHCG radioimmunoassay decreased from the relatively high levels in foetuses at 90 to 120 days gestational age to term. The mean concentration in umbilical cord sera was 268.5 +/- 161 mIU/ml in contrast to 5400 +/- 200 mIU/ml in maternal plasma at term. ...

Anencephaly↗
PubMed1976

The first international standard for human urinary FSH and for human urinary LH (ICSH), for bioassay.

This paper describes the preparation and nature of the First International Standard for Human Urinary Follicle Stimulating Hormone and for Human Urinary Luteinizing Hormone, for Bioassay, and of two batches of working standard which were prepared from the same material. A collaborative study of these materials was carried out by six laboratories in six different countries. The FSH and LH activities of the Standard were assayed in terms of those of the Second International Reference Preparation of Human Menopausal Gonadotrophins, Urinary, for Bioassay, which it replaces. The results from 20 valid FSH assays and 30 valid LH assays (using four different methods) obtained in this way gave a weighted combined potency estimate for FSH of 53.7 IU, with 95 % fiducial limits of 47.2-61.1 IU, and for LH of 46.2 IU, with 95 % fiducial limits of 43.3-49.3 IU. Accelerated degradation studies of the Standard stored at elevated temperatures suggested that the stability of both FSH and LH activities under normal storage conditions would be satisfactory. The FSH and LH activities of the two batches of working standard (WS-A and WS-B) were compared with those of the Standard and were not found to differ significantly, except for the LH activity of WS-B which appeared to be slightly higher than that of the Standard. Accelerated degradation studies did not show any significant differences in stability between the Standard and batches of working standards. On the basis of these results the Standard has been established by WHO and allocated a potency for FSH of 54 IU per ampoule and for LH 46 IU per ampoule. The International Units for FSH, Human Urinary, for Bioassay and for LH (ICSH), Human Urinary, for Bioassay are thus defined as the activities contained in 0.1138 mg and 0.13369 mg of the International Standard, respectively.

Biological Assay↗
PubMed1978

Cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP accumulation by isolated hamster granulosa cells stimulated by LH and FSH.

Cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP accumulation in hamster granulosa cells as a function of gonadotrophin dose (LH or FSH) and time (0-30 min) was determined. The pattern of acute cyclic AMP accumulation was similar in LH and FSH stimulated granulosa cells, except that the cells were more sensitive to FSH than LH. There was a positive dose response relationship of cyclic AMP accumulation in LH and FSH stimulated cells. LH appeared to partially inhibit FSH stimulated cyclic AMP synthesis. Cyclic GMP accumulation was distinctly different in LH and FSH stimulated cells. An inverse dose response relationship of cyclic GMP to dose LH was observed, with only the lowest dose of LH (0.005 IU/ml) stimulating cyclic GMP synthesis. FSH at 0.005 IU/ml did not stimulate cyclic GMP synthesis, but at higher doses generated cyclic GMP in a positive dose-related manner. The results suggest that specificity of hormone action in granulosa cells may be governed in part by differential on cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP in these cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Effect of pretreatment of long-term ovariectomized (OVX) rats with a competitive LRH antagonist on FSH release in vitro.

The effect of a single sc injection of an LRH antagonist ((Ac-D-p-Cl-Phe1,2,D-Trp3,D-Phe6,D-Ala10)-LRH, Org 30093) into OVX rats on FSH release 24 h later was studied. Plasma FSH was decreased but pituitary FSH content was not changed. Incubation of the pituitary glands during 4 h resulted in a decreased basal release. FSH release induced by a low concentration of LRH (1 ng/ml) was depressed but that of a high concentration (10 000 ng/ml) was augmented in comparison to FSH release induced in control glands. However, pretreatment with the antagonist had no specific effect on FSH release in vitro induced by high K+ or high K+ plus mbcAMP and theophylline, indicating that the changes of pituitary responsiveness to LRH are not caused by those parts of the secretory mechanism which are stimulated by these secretagogues. Moreover, it is concluded that the changes of pituitary LH release induced by administration of an LRH antagonist also concern FSH.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

The regulation of metabolic clearance rate of human FSH in mice by variation of the molecular structure of the hormone.

The relationship between charge on human FSH (hFSH) molecules and their metabolic clearance rate (MCR) was investigated. The median charge of the hFSH molecules was expressed as their median mobility at electrophoresis in 0.075 M sodium veronal buffer, pH 8.6. MCR was estimated after single iv injection in mice of unfractionated and fractionated extracts of human pituitaries. There was a highly significant (P less than 0.001) correlation between charge and MCR both for forms of FSH present within the individual pituitary and for FSH in different pituitaries. After the iv injection there was a gradual change to a more negative median charge of hFSH in plasma. This was explained by the more rapid clearance of the less negatively charged forms of hFSH and thus selective survival of different forms in the circulation. This is a most likely explanation for the differences in median charge between FSH in pituitaries and in sera of men and women of corresponding age. The results suggest that MCR of human FSH is controlled by a gonadal-pituitary feed-back mechanism which involves changes in the structure of the FSH produced by the pituitary. It is suggested that charge is one factor involved in the regulation of the survival of FSH in the circulation and that this is of physiological importance for the control of the ovarian function during the menstrual cycle.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Similar isoelectric profiles of FSH from gonadotroph cell adenomas and non-adenomatous pituitaries.

Heterogeneity of intact FSH in human pituitary tissue was evaluated by the column isoelectric focusing technique, chromatofocusing. FSH was examined from three autopsy pituitaries, one piece of apparently normal pituitary obtained at surgery, three purified FSH preparation, and four gonadotroph cell adenomas. FSH from all of these sources was found to exist in multiple isoelectric forms. FSH from the gonadotroph cell adenomas exhibited chromatofocusing profiles that were similar, both in the range of pI's and the relative proportions of the FSH isohormones, to those of the non-adenomatous pituitaries. We conclude that gonadotroph cell adenomas produce a population of FSH that is qualitatively normal although quantitatively excessive.

Adenoma↗