SUPPRESSION OF SERUM LEVELS OF LUTEINIZING HORMONE BY SHORT- AND LONG-LOOP NEGATIVE FEEDBACK IN OVARIECTOMIZED WOMEN

Abstract

The suppressive effects of short- and long-loop negative feedback on serum levels of LH were assessed after administration of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) and conjugated oestrogens. Fourteen ovariectomized women were injected intravenously with 5 mg conjugated oestrogens, eight of these patients were also given an intramuscular injection of 10 000 i.u. HCG 8 h later, while the other six patients were given a control injection of 0·9% saline. The serum levels of LH decreased by similar amounts in both groups of women. Thirteen other ovariectomized women were initially injected with 10 000 i.u. HCG, i.m., seven of these patients were also given an i.v. injection of 5 mg conjugated oestrogens 8 h later, while the remaining six patients received a control injection of 0·9% saline. The results showed that conjugated oestrogens could further suppress the serum level of LH which had been reduced by prior HCG treatment. In six ovariectomized women who received i.m. saline injections at the start of the experiment and 8 h later, the serum levels of LH did not change significantly. It is concluded that the suppression of the serum concentrations of LH by long-loop negative feedback after administration of 5 mg conjugated oestrogens is greater than that by short-loop negative feedback after treatment with 10 000 i.u. HCG.