Biomaterial Database

Effects of age on the irregularity of LH and FSH serum concentrations in women and men. 1997

S M Pincus, and J D Veldhuis, and T Mulligan, and A Iranmanesh, and W S Evans

Department of Internal Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville 22908, USA.

We evaluated an apparent distinction between follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) dynamics: visually, it appears that the pattern of serum concentrations of FSH is more irregular than that of LH in younger human females. We studied healthy humans, with LH and FSH serum samples obtained every 10 min for 24 h. Three groups were studied: 24 young females [8 early follicular (EFol), 8 late follicular (LFol), and 8 midluteal (MLut)]; 8 postmenopausal females; and 17 males 21-79 yr of age. To quantify serial irregularity, we utilized approximate entropy (ApEn), a scale- and model-independent statistic. For young females, FSH was consistently more irregular than LH per subject: among the younger subjects, ApEn(FSH) - ApEn(LH) = 0.342 +/- 0.270; ApEn(FSH) > ApEn(LH), P < 0.00001; ApEn(FSH) > ApEn(LH) for 23 of 24 subjects. For each cycle stage, pairwise ApEn(FSH) > ApEn(LH): P < 0.005 for both LFol and MLut, P < 0.01 for EFol. Notably, for the postmenopausal women, the irregularity difference vanished:ApEn(FSH) - ApEn(LH) = 0.008 +/- 0.205. Males exhibited qualitatively similar results: ApEn(FSH)- ApEn(LH) was significantly and negatively correlated with age (r = -0.75, P = 0.0006). The capability to quantify (the extent of) differences between FSH and LH release, beyond the general 1:1 correspondence between primary LH and FSH pulses, suggests a means to assess bihormonal changes as a clinical marker of altered reproductive status in a variety of settings, e.g., a perimenopausal milieu. Mechanistically, the erosion of unequal FSH-LH regularity with age is consistent with a loss of synchrony control within the integrated hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007986	Luteinizing Hormone	A major gonadotropin secreted by the adenohypophysis (PITUITARY GLAND, ANTERIOR). Luteinizing hormone regulates steroid production by the interstitial cells of the TESTIS and the OVARY. The preovulatory LUTEINIZING HORMONE surge in females induces OVULATION, and subsequent LUTEINIZATION of the follicle. LUTEINIZING HORMONE consists of two noncovalently linked subunits, alpha and beta. Within a species, the alpha subunit is common in the three pituitary glycoprotein hormones (TSH, LH and FSH), but the beta subunit is unique and confers its biological specificity.	ICSH (Interstitial Cell Stimulating Hormone),Interstitial Cell-Stimulating Hormone,LH (Luteinizing Hormone),Lutropin,Luteoziman,Luteozyman,Hormone, Interstitial Cell-Stimulating,Hormone, Luteinizing,Interstitial Cell Stimulating Hormone
D008297	Male		Males
D008597	Menstrual Cycle	The period from onset of one menstrual bleeding (MENSTRUATION) to the next in an ovulating woman or female primate. The menstrual cycle is regulated by endocrine interactions of the HYPOTHALAMUS; the PITUITARY GLAND; the ovaries; and the genital tract. The menstrual cycle is divided by OVULATION into two phases. Based on the endocrine status of the OVARY, there is a FOLLICULAR PHASE and a LUTEAL PHASE. Based on the response in the ENDOMETRIUM, the menstrual cycle is divided into a proliferative and a secretory phase.	Endometrial Cycle,Ovarian Cycle,Cycle, Endometrial,Cycle, Menstrual,Cycle, Ovarian,Cycles, Endometrial,Cycles, Menstrual,Cycles, Ovarian,Endometrial Cycles,Menstrual Cycles,Ovarian Cycles
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D012044	Regression Analysis	Procedures for finding the mathematical function which best describes the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. In linear regression (see LINEAR MODELS) the relationship is constrained to be a straight line and LEAST-SQUARES ANALYSIS is used to determine the best fit. In logistic regression (see LOGISTIC MODELS) the dependent variable is qualitative rather than continuously variable and LIKELIHOOD FUNCTIONS are used to find the best relationship. In multiple regression, the dependent variable is considered to depend on more than a single independent variable.	Regression Diagnostics,Statistical Regression,Analysis, Regression,Analyses, Regression,Diagnostics, Regression,Regression Analyses,Regression, Statistical,Regressions, Statistical,Statistical Regressions
D002940	Circadian Rhythm	The regular recurrence, in cycles of about 24 hours, of biological processes or activities, such as sensitivity to drugs or environmental and physiological stimuli.	Diurnal Rhythm,Nyctohemeral Rhythm,Twenty-Four Hour Rhythm,Nycthemeral Rhythm,Circadian Rhythms,Diurnal Rhythms,Nycthemeral Rhythms,Nyctohemeral Rhythms,Rhythm, Circadian,Rhythm, Diurnal,Rhythm, Nycthemeral,Rhythm, Nyctohemeral,Rhythm, Twenty-Four Hour,Rhythms, Circadian,Rhythms, Diurnal,Rhythms, Nycthemeral,Rhythms, Nyctohemeral,Rhythms, Twenty-Four Hour,Twenty Four Hour Rhythm,Twenty-Four Hour Rhythms
D005260	Female		Females
D005640	Follicle Stimulating Hormone	A major gonadotropin secreted by the adenohypophysis (PITUITARY GLAND, ANTERIOR). Follicle-stimulating hormone stimulates GAMETOGENESIS and the supporting cells such as the ovarian GRANULOSA CELLS, the testicular SERTOLI CELLS, and LEYDIG CELLS. FSH consists of two noncovalently linked subunits, alpha and beta. Within a species, the alpha subunit is common in the three pituitary glycoprotein hormones (TSH, LH, and FSH), but the beta subunit is unique and confers its biological specificity.	FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone),Follicle-Stimulating Hormone,Follitropin
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults