Anterior pituitary glands were removed from ovariectomized hamsters after specific endocrine treatments. The presence and relative proportions of the multiple species of FSH present within them were assessed by radioimmunoassay after separation by chromatofocusing. This technique is superior to polyacrylamide gel-isoelectric focusing, as it can accommodate a greater sample volume and has increased resolution. Endocrine conditions which decreased hypothalamic LH releasing hormone (LHRH) release or the sensitivity of the pituitary gland to that neurohormone (phenobarbitone treatment or short-term oestradiol exposure) caused an increase in the relative proportions of the more acidic forms (isoelectric points (pI) 5.1-3.8) of pituitary FSH and a concomitant reduction in the more basic (pI values 6.0-5.3) forms of FSH. During times of increased pituitary LHRH exposure (immediately before the oestradiol-induced gonadotrophin surge or after injection of synthetic LHRH) an increase was observed in the relative proportion of the more basic forms of pituitary FSH. Treatment of ovariectomized hamsters with an inhibin-containing preparation reduced serum FSH concentrations as well as the relative proportion of the more basic forms of pituitary FSH. We have previously shown that the more studies suggest that the existing hormonal milieu, in particular LHRH and oestradiol, influences the types of FSH produced and (presumably) secreted. Thus, through hormonal interactions, the pituitary gland regulates not only the absolute amount but also the potency of the FSH signal to the ovaries.
Homologous artificial insemination (AIH) followed by postinsemination cervical mucus test (PIT) was performed in 100 couples in a prospective study to evaluate suspected cervical or male factor infertility. A portion of the ejaculate was submitted for standard semen analysis as well as turbidimetric analysis of sperm velocity. In a review of 333 cases evaluated for infertility, the average sperm velocity in a normal semen analysis was 96.5 mu/sec, for those with normal postcoital test (PCT) 96.6 mu/sec, and in those that established a pregnancy 91.6 mu/sec. These are significantly higher than the values obtained for abnormal semen analysis and abnormal PCT (64.6 and 63.6 mu/sec, respectively; p less than 0.001). Patients with normal PIT (WHO criteria for normal PCT consisting of greater than or equal to 7 motile sperm/hpf) had sperm velocity of 87 mu/sec compared to velocities of 46 mu/sec for abnormal PIT (p less than 0.001). Four of the five patients with abnormal PIT (in spite of normal semen analysis and normal cervical mucus) had sperm velocities less than 75 mu/sec. Likewise, all 8 patients who had normal PIT in spite of abnormal semen analysis had sperm velocities greater than 75 mu/sec, even though the sperm motility was below normal in 5 of them. Sperm velocity is a more sensitive indicator of sperm function when compared to standard semen analysis results.
Late secretory endometrium synthesizes and secretes progestagen-associated endometrial protein (PEP), which is measurable in the serum of cycling women, and has been shown to increase in concentration during the luteal phase of the normal menstrual cycle. The purpose of this study was to determine the utility of serum PEP as a predictor of normal or inadequate luteal phase endometrial differentiation. One-hundred-and-twenty-five endometrial biopsies were taken within 4 days of a subsequent menstrual period, during the course of evaluation of infertility or recurrent abortion. Twenty-one of these biopsies demonstrated glandular/stromal asynchrony. Thirteen patients exhibited 'out-of-phase' endometrial biopsies and 91 patients had 'in-phase' biopsies. Mean PEP values significantly increased from the mid-luteal phase to the late luteal phase. Mean PEP values for patients with in-phase biopsies (43.92 units/ml) were not significantly different from those with out-of-phase biopsies (25.24 units/ml, P = 0.0942). PEP values for patients with asynchronous biopsies were intermediate. Use of clomiphene citrate did not affect these results.
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