A solid-phase radioimmunoassay for ovine luteinizing hormone (LH) has been developed, utilizing antibody-coated polystyrene tubes for incubation of the assay and counting of the bound tracer. Tubes were coated with equine antiserum to bovine LH (Snook), and purified ovine LH (Papkoff) was used for iodination with 126 I and assay standards. The procedure is simple and rapid, being completely performed in the assay tubes and giving results after a period of 48 hr. Basal levels of plasma LH were 2.9 ±0.9 ng/ml in the cycling ewe, 1.2 ±0.9 ng/ml in the ram, 12.6 ±5.5 ng/ml in the oophorectomized ewe, and 1.2 ±0.9 ng/ml in the pregnant ewe. These values obtained from jugular venous plasma are 25% higher than those measured in peripheral venous plasma. The sheep does not appear to produce a placental gonadotrophin comparable to human chorionic gonadotrophin in regard to immunological crossreaction with pituitary LH. Plasma levels of LH rose sharply 4-16 hr after the onset of estrus to levels of 80-200 ng/ml, over a total period of only 10 hr. Frequent blood sampling is necessary to delineate the estrous LH release in the sheep, and daily estimations carry a greater than 50% chance of completely missing the LH peak. Administration of estradiol-17/3 to anestrous sheep by intramuscular injection and intravenous infusion was regularly followed by a typical estrous peak of LH secretion. The latent period of the estrogen stimulus was approximately 9 hr, and the dose required to produce an ovulatory LH peak was 6-10 ng, an amount similar to that secreted by the ovary at estrus. It is likely that estrogen secretion by the ovary is a major factor in stimulating the LH release accompanying estrus in the sheep (Endocrinology 85: 133, 1969) T HE STUDY of pituitary gonadotrophin secretion in the sheep was previously dependent upon indirect observations and the use of bioassay techniques. The timing of luteinizing hormone (LH) release has been examined by estimation of pituitary LH content (1) and by measurement of LH in blood obtained from the cavernous sinus (2). These studies have relied upon ovarian ascorbic acid depletion assays (3, 4) for quantitation of LH, a procedure which is adequate for the measurement of pituitary LH content but not generally regarded as satisfactory for the assay of blood LH levels. A decrease in pituitary LH content may indicate release of LH into the circulation, though this is uncertain unless the rate of hormone synthesis is also known, while cavernous sinus

No abstract

Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) can cause potentially stigmatizing facial lipoatrophy. Encouraging preliminary results have been reported with 2.5% polyacrylamide hydrogel for facial reconstruction. The aim of this multicenter, open-label noncomparative pilot study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intradermal facial injections of polyacrylamide hydrogel in HIV-infected patients with severe facial lipoatrophy. The patients received between two and six injections every 4 weeks, according to the aesthetic results. Clinical efficacy was evaluated by means of facial ultrasonography and photography at baseline and months 6, 12, and 24. Adverse events, patient satisfaction, and quality of life were also assessed. One hundred and eleven patients were enrolled and received at least one injection. Mean cheek skin thickness was 9.7 mm [95% CI: 9.1 to 10.2] at baseline. It rose by an average of 4.4 mm [95% CI: 3.9 to 4.9; p<0.001] at month 12 and a further 0.87 mm [95% CI: 0.52 to 1.23; p<0.001] at month 24. The Overall Treatment Satisfaction scale showed an improvement in more than 88% of patients at all visits, based on the appreciations of the patients, their close relatives and physicians, and on independent assessment of facial photographs. Quality of life improved significantly over time, as shown by the lipodystrophy-specific ABCD scale. No severe adverse effects related to the polyacrylamide hydrogel were noted. Polyacrylamide hydrogel injections were well tolerated and significantly improved the aesthetic aspect and quality of life of HIV-infected patients with facial lipoatrophy.