Temporal coupling of luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone secretion in polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) pulsatile secretion and their temporal relation (concordance) in subjects with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Fifteen subjects were included in the study (age 17–30 years ,body mass index (BMI) 19.38–33.46 kg/m²). For the LH and FSH determinations ,blood sampling started at 23.00 and lasted for 6 h with an intersample interval of 10 min. Pulse analysis was carried out using the PulsDetekt program. LH/FSH pulse concordance was calculated using the specific concordance index. Gonadotropin co-pulsatility was found in six subjects who were significantly younger than the others (median 18.5 vs. 22.5 years ,p = 0.036). BMI ,hirsutism grade ,insulin sensitivity ,estradiol ,progesterone, testosterone ,prolactin ,cortisol and results obtained from the pulsatility analysis did not significantly differ between the groups. A serum cortisol concentration was correlated with the increased LH/FSH lag time (ρ = 0.851 ,p = 0.036) all subjects were included. In conclusion ,two distinct LH/FSH secretory patterns were found in PCOS patients ,manifested by the presence or absence of the concordance of gonadotropin secretion. In the group where LH/FSH co-pulsatility was present ,correlation was found between the serum cortisol and the LH/FSH lag. We also confirmed the finding of previous studies that LH and FSH secretion are regulated by two different mechanisms.

• PCOS
• PULSATILE SECRETION
• CO-PULSATILITY
• LH
• FSH
• BIOLOGICAL RHYTHMS