In the present study we analyzed physiological changes in the relative distribution of FSH isoforms circulating under baseline conditions throughout the ovarian cycle as well as the forms discharged by GnRH stimulation from putative acutely releasable and reserve pituitary pools. Eight normally menstruating women underwent blood sampling on three occasions, once each during the presumptive early or midfollicular phase (FP), late follicular phase to midcycle (preovulatory phase; PO), and mid- to late luteal phase (LP) of the menstrual cycle. Blood samples were withdrawn at 10-min intervals for a total of 10 h before and after the iv administration of 10 and 90 micrograms GnRH. GnRH-stimulated FSH pulses were analyzed for secretory burst mass, secretory burst amplitude, integrated FSH concentrations, and endogenous FSH half-life by deconvolution. Serum FSH isoforms were separated by preparative chromatofocusing in 30 x 1-cm columns and identified by RIA of eluent fractions. The changes observed in serum FSH isoform distribution were then correlated with the corresponding secretory and clearance estimates of the released FSH molecules. In each phase of the menstrual cycle, a significant rise in serum FSH concentrations was observed after administration of the consecutive low and high dose GnRH pulses. The magnitude of the response in terms of secretory burst mass, secretory amplitude, and area of GnRH-induced FSH peaks was significantly higher during the PO. In all cycle phases, but particularly during the FP and PO, administration of the 90-micrograms GnRH dose elicited higher (1.4- to 1.7-fold) FSH secretory responses than the lower dose. Multiple parameter deconvolution of the GnRH-induced FSH pulses revealed that FSH molecules released in response to 10 micrograms GnRH at PO exhibited significantly (P < 0.01) shorter plasma half-lives (108 +/- 11 min) than those released during the follicular and luteal phases of the same menstrual cycles (apparent plasma half-life of FSH released at FP, 222 +/- 37 and 271 +/- 47 min for 10 and 90 micrograms GnRH-induced FSH pulses, respectively; LP, 244 +/- 41 and 198 +/- 40 min; P = NS, FP vs. LP) and in response to the high dose GnRH challenge at PO (276 +/- 40 min). Under all conditions studied, serum FSH charge isoforms were distributed along a pH range of 7.0 to less than 4.0.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)