AN ANALYSIS OF AMENORRHEA BY THE USE OF COMMERCIAL PROLACTIN AND THE LUTEINIZING HORMONE1

The production of an inhibition of the estrous cycle in the rodent has been reported repeatedly with the use of various hormones as well as with other agents. The mechanism is obviously complicated, for anestrus may be produced through the inhibition of the gonadotropic hormones or it may occur as a result of a direct action upon the ovary itself. This phenomenon is of clinical interest since it may explain one of the causes of functional amenorrhea in the human, and indicate its proper treatment. On the other hand, if the mechanism can be sufficiently understood it may prove of value in the treatment of uterine hemorrhage of functional origin by enabling one to produce a temporary amenorrhea when it is desired. It is our purpose in this communication, therefore, to present what we believe may possibly be one of the fundamental factors concerned in the production of amenorrhea. It is an established fact that a large number of patients who lactate following parturition have periods of amenorrhea varying from a few to many months. If lactation is stopped for any reason, menstruation will commence within a relatively short time, i.e., a few weeks to two months. Consequently, we attempted to produce an analogous condition in the rodent by the injection of urine from women who had amenorrhea during lactation.