Do androgens modulate luteinizing hormone secretion in women? ¿Modulan los andrógenos la secreción de hormona luteinizante en mujeres?

Abstract

In hyperandrogenic states an abnormal pattern of LH secretion in women is observed, which is presumed to result from a direct action of androgen or its conversion to estrogen. Two strategies are available to study the effect of testosterone on LH secretion. One involves the use of non-steroidal compounds that block the negative feedback actions of endogenous androgens by binding to androgen receptors; the other consists only in the administration of androgens. Following these two strategies, we first studied the pulsatile gonadotrophin secretion in hyperandrogenic women, following flutamide administration, a specific androgen receptor blocker. Flutamide treatment was followed by a decrease in LH pulse amplitude and mean LH concentrations, demonstrating that androgen receptor blockade reduces LH secretion in hyperandrogenic women. To establish the level at which the androgen effect is exerted, we further studied the acute effect of testosterone (hyperandrogenic levels) and the blockade