Endogenous opiates modulate pulsatile luteinizing hormone release in humans

J F Ropert; M E Quigley; S S Yen

doi:10.1210/jcem-52-3-583

Reproductive Endocrinology · Neuroendocrinology

Endogenous opiates modulate pulsatile luteinizing hormone release in humans

Ropert JF, Quigley ME, Yen SS

Published March 1981 The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 52(3), 583-585

DOI 10.1210/jcem-52-3-583 PMID 6780598

Abstract

To test the postulate that endogenous opioid peptides may be involved in the neuroendocrine mechanisms controlling the frequency and amplitude of LH pulses, saline and an opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone, were infused sequentially, each for 6-h intervals, in six normal cycling women during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. During naloxone infusion (1.6 mg/h), there was a significant (P less than 0.01) increase in both the frequency and amplitude of LH pulses compared to those in saline controls. FSH pulses were not discernible in individual subjects; however, a significant increment in FSH levels occurred concomitantly with the increase in LH. These data strongly suggest that endogenous opiates, through an inhibition of hypothalamic LRF, participate in the endocrine events leading to the low frequency of episodic LH secretion characteristic of the luteal phase of the human menstrual cycle.

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Reame NE et al., 1992 Psychoneuroendocrinology

The premenstrual syndrome (PMS) has been proposed to result from excessive exposure to and/or withdrawal of brain opioid activity during the luteal phase. Because hypothalamic opioids are believed to modulate GnRH secretion, in part under the influence of ovarian steroids, we performed longitudinal studies of gonadotropin and ovarian steroid secretion across ovulatory, symptomatic cycles of 17 PMS patients and 8 normal volunteers. Pulsatile LH secretion was measured every 10 min for 8 hr at times when central opioid activity was expected to be low (early follicular phase), high (mid-luteal phase; ML), and declining (late luteal phase). In both subject groups, a cycle-phase effect was observed for LH pulse frequency (p = < 0.001) and amplitude (p = 0.002), and for the transverse mean concentrations of LH (p = 0.05), FSH (p < = 0.001), estradiol (E2) (p = < 0.001) and progesterone (P) (p = < 0.001). ML P secretion in PMS patients was pulsatile, and mean concentrations (over 30-60 min) were similar to those of normal controls. The changes in pulsatile LH secretion across the cycle were not different in the PMS patients compared to the normal women, though mean FSH in the ML phase was higher in the PMS group (p = < 0.05). The similar changes in luteal LH pulse frequency fail to provide evidence that GnRH secretion is impaired, thus challenging the view that the neuroregulation of the menstrual cycle in women with PMS is markedly altered.

Reproductive Endocrinology › Neuroendocrinology › Opioid Peptides · Menstrual Cycle › Cycle Physiology › Luteal Phase

PMID 6780598 6780598 DOI 10.1210/jcem-52-3-583 10.1210/jcem-52-3-583 Ropert et al. 1981, Ropert 1981

Cite this article

Ropert, J. F., Quigley, M. E., & Yen, S. S. (1981). Endogenous opiates modulate pulsatile luteinizing hormone release in humans. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 52(3), 583-585. https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem-52-3-583

Keywords

Adult, Endorphins/physiology, Female, Follicle Stimulating Hormone/blood, Humans, Luteinizing Hormone/metabolism, Naloxone, Periodicity, Endorphins, Naloxone, Luteinizing Hormone, Follicle Stimulating Hormone