The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of endogenous opiates in the mechanism of decreased LH secretion in women with anorexia nervosa. For this purpose the effect of opiate receptor blockade with naloxone on LH, FSH, PRL, and beta-endorphins secretion was studied in 24 women with anorexia nervosa and 7 normal women. Serum LH, FSH, PRL, beta-endorphin-like substance, ACTH, and cortisol concentrations were measured before and after opiate receptor blockade after a single iv dose of 0.2 mg/kg naloxone or saline. Mean serum LH and FSH concentrations increased significantly after naloxone in the normal women. Eleven patients had a significant increase in serum LH concentrations in response to naloxone and 13 did not respond to naloxone with an increase in LH concentration. In the first group the basal LH values were higher than those in the second group. In the majority of patients in the first group amenorrhea preceded the wt loss, whereas in most patients in the second group amenorrhea appeared during the phase of wt loss. Naloxone did not alter pulsatile LH secretion in 6 women. No effect of naloxone on serum FSH and PRL concentrations was found. A significant increase in beta-endorphin-like substance levels after naloxone administration occurred in patients with anorexia nervosa. However, serum ACTH and cortisol concentrations were not altered in response to naloxone. In conclusion, the increase in LH release after opiate receptor blockade by naloxone suggests that endogenous opiates may play a role in the mechanism of inhibited LH secretion at least, in the majority of those women with anorexia nervosa in whom amenorrhea preceded wt loss. The results also point to a different mechanism of ACTH and beta-endorphin secretion in patients with anorexia nervosa.

1 million of spermatozoa per ml of ejaculate The study includes 13 sterile men, 21-34 years old (the mean was 27 years) with oligo-Among the 13 patients, three had third degree, oligozoospermia 3severe oligozoo-Classification criterions of oligozoospermia were those of Smith et al. (1977): Key words: Prolactinmetoclopramidebromocriptinedopaminergic receptoroligozoospermia, prolactinazoospermia, prolactin andrologia 15 (1983)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the agonistic LRH analogue (D-Trp6-LRH) on LH, FSH and prolactin secretion, and its possible efficacy in female patients with anorexia nervosa. The study included 18 female patients with anorexia nervosa and 7 healthy women in the same age group. The patients with anorexia nervosa were divided into two groups of 9 women each. The first group consisted of patients in the weight loss phase of the disorder and the second of 9 women who had achieved normal body weight. Additionally, in 6 women with anorexia nervosa serum LH concentration was determined in response to native LRH before and 14 days after the treatment with D-Trp6\x=req-\ LRH.Serum LH, FSH, prolactin concentrations were determined before and 5, 10, 24 and 48 h after administration of D-Trp6-LRH in a dose of 5 \g=m\g. The serum LH response to D-Trp6-LRH in the second group did not differ from that of the control group. However, in women with anorexia nervosa in the weight loss phase, LH release in response to administration of the analogue was significantly lower. FSH release after LRH analogue administration in both groups of patients with anorexia nervosa did not differ from that in the control group. The increased LH secretion in response to native LRH after treatment indicates that D-Trp6-LRH in low doses did not inhibit pituitary responsiveness. A dose of 5 \ g=m\ g of D-Trp6-LRH was administered in a therapeutic regimen every 48 h from 1 to 3 months to 7 of 9 patients with anorexia nervosa who exhibited amenorrhoea in spite of normalization of body weight. All the patients treated with the analogue resumed menstruation. The results of this study suggest that D-Trp6-LRH may be of value in the treatment of amenorrhoea in women with anorexia nervosa.

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